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An American in Paris
by Eugene Paul Paris? 1945? This bare stage, a funny looking grand piano and a funnier looking piano player with a bum leg? He’s ex-G.I. Adam Hochberg (brilliant Brandon Uranowitz) confessing he’s a composer and we are off to the most enchanting musical on Broadway, delight after delight. How long has it been since we’ve been swept away by story telling ballet, with superb, dancing boy and incredible dancing girl at the core of a love story atremble with possibilities and impossibilities? He’s Robert Fairchild, premier danseur with the New York City Ballet being ex-American soldier Jerry Mulligan shedding his war time uniform for Paris and his art. And that extraordinary French girl he cannot help seeing wherever he looks, she is bewitching Leanne Cope, premiere danseuse with the Royal Ballet, playing ballerina Lise, a girl still caught with demanding war time obligations, afraid yet not able to resist Jerry. And in a long, spellbinding ballet to George Gershwin’s Concerto in F, we know their story, danced with an outstanding company, in, around, among designer Bob Crowley’s compelling settings. We’ve only just begun and we don’t want it ever to end.
Playwright Craig Lucas doesn’t let it go at that: boy chases girl all over Paris, they fall in love, tada! Piano player Adam -- oh, all right, we know he’s really George Gershwin—also falls in love with lovely Lise, and Lise is engaged to Henri Baumel (terrific Max Von Essen), or will be as soon as he gets up the courage to ask her, it’s a foregone conclusion. The Baumel family rescued her, protected her, hid her during the occupation of France by the Nazis. She will do anything for the Baumels. They put their own lives in peril. Monsieur Baumel (fine Scott Willis) is very correct. Madame Baumel (absolutely wonderful Veanne Cox) is even more punctilious. As complicated as Lise’s life is, Jerry’s life also gets more complicated when Milo Davenport (dazzling Jill Paice) American rich girl descends on Paris to discover French art and artists and Jerry is French enough for her. She launches her career by launching his. Which somehow weaves Lise into launches by having a ballet created for her by Adam. There, you see? Well, you should. It’s all so gol durn yummy. Famed choreographer Christopher Wheeldon making his astonishing Broadway directorial/choreographic debut goes deliciously mad with Gershwin’s music and his two starring dancers, also making Broadway debuts. Inspiration soaring all over, Tony winner designer Bob Crowley pulls out all the stops, creates rhapsodies as whooshing as Gershwin’s and Tony winner lighting designer Natasha Katz bathes everything in magic light.
Are there show stoppers? Is Netanyahu Jewish? “I’ve Got Rhythm”, “I’ve Got Beginner’s Luck”, “Liza”, “Fidgety Feet”, “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise”, each one arranged by Sam Davis hand in glove with director Wheeldon. Is there a favorite song? Is twelve a dozen? And a special bow to Jill Paice and “Shall We Dance?” Oh, what a show.
Cannot say enough about Veanne Cox whose utter panache is a feast of timing. Max Von Essen knocks his big number out of the park, buoyed by wonderful dancers, eye popping sets, Gershwin music and verve. Brandon Uranowitz gets better and better and has a delicious spot in one with “But Not For Me”. What a company. Even an Attila! But the evening belongs to Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope, Broadway’s newest sweethearts. They’ve put a new shine on Broadway. Can’t wait to see it again. An American in Paris. At the Palace Theatre, Broadway & 47th Street. Tickets: $30-$150. 212-250-2929. 2hrs 30 min. 
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