Lerner & Loewe's Gigi Onstage @ Reprise Theatre Company

Gigi
book & lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
music by Frederick Loewe
directed by David Lee
Reprise Theatre Company @ The Freud Playhouse, UCLA
through February 27 only

It is practically impossible to get the images of Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, Maurice chevalier and Hermione Gingold out of one's mind when seeing Gigi, as they, in the original film (1958) lifted the musical to a higher, more colorful level of interest. It's not that the musical isn't in some ways delightful, but it is certainly not on a par with Lerner and Loewe's triumph My Fair Lady. The stage musical came along long after the movie (1973), and this version has been scrupulously improved by director David Lee who bases the script on the 1985 West End production. All this considered, the current cast @ Reprise and director Lee are all top pros who do their best to make Gigi a pleasurable experience.

We are often reminded of Professor Higgins of My Fair Lady as we contemplate Gaston (Matt Cavenaugh), an arrogant young man, who has difficulty with falling in love. He is too egotistical to separate the forest from the trees. His aside monologues of consternation in song are particularly reminiscent of Higgins and his independent way of rationalizing. Cavenaugh, perhaps a tad too young for Gaston, is certainly a match. He makes the bored handsome Frenchman his own, is physically dexterous and sings sublimely. Lisa O'Hare does fine with Gigi as the intelligent pampered creature who refuses to give up her girlish ideals, but somehow she needs to infuse the character more with sparks of innocent playfulness. William Atherton as Gaston's uncle Honore copies none of Chevalier's charm, but creates his own philosophical man, who wins our sympathy and fondness. Millicent Martin as Mamita brings her own worldly wisdom and personality to the role and makes her shine. She and Atherton do lovely work with their duet of "I Remember it Well" and he a perfect rendition of "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore". Susan Deneker is beautifully stuffy, snobbish and cunning as aristocratic Aunt Alicia and Jason Graae is the man of the hour as he steals every scene playing at least 7 different roles, all decidedly different in accent and physicality.

Peggy Hickey does nice work with the choreography; Tom Buderwitz, as always, does a splendid job with scenic design set off lovingly by Jared A. Sayeg's lighting design. Kate Bergh creates appealing period costumes.

Gigi is a loving pastiche, a sweet French pastry that is definitely worth savoring but unfortunately not one of the most memorable musicals. Reprise does what they can to compensate and make it worthwhile, with special nod to Lee's creativity and the tightly knit ensemble.