-
- The story is set in Paris at the turn of the
20th Century and centers on a vibrant, vivacious young
teen-age girl. Gigi (Lisa O’Hare) is being raised by her
Grandmother (Millicent Martin as Mamita) and being taught "social
graces" by her Great Aunt Alicia (Susan Denaker) who is readying her
to become a courtesan. Meanwhile, Paris’s most eligible bachelor and
man-about-town, Gaston Lachailles (Matt Cavanaugh) finds solace in
visiting Mamita and Gigi when he wants to get away from his fast life.
When he has problems with the ladies, Gaston looks to his Uncle Honore
(William Atherton) for advice. But as Gigi is transformed from
the free-spirited teen-age girl into a beautiful and charming young
woman, Gaston becomes captivated by the once little Gigi that he knew.
Millicent Martin is comical as
Mamita, and Susan Denaker is equally delightful as Gigi’s "teacher." Matt
Cavanaugh, although a handsome young man with a mellow voice, almost looks
too young for his character. Lisa O’Hare is very charming with a lovely
voice, but in her role, she advances from puberty into a self-confident,
mature young woman before it seems like a natural transition of time.
Wonderful actor, singer and comic, Jason Graae, performs several parts and
adds delightful comic respite to the production. William Atherton does
justice to Honore, but after seeing Maurice Chevalier in the film and
hearing him sing the music from the show, one misses hearing that
delightful French accent and little laugh when hearing them sung by anyone
else. Of course, the music from GiGi is what really makes the show
and the orchestra, led by Steve Orich, is tops. The dancers and the
choreography (Peggy Hickey) are divine as are the beautiful period
costumes by Kate Bergh.
Gigi
plays Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at
2 PM and 8 PM, Sunday at 2 PM and 7 PM, through February 27, 2011. Tickets
are available at the UCLA Central Ticket Office, or by telephone at (310)
825-2101. The Freud Playhouse is located in Macgowan Hall on the campus of
UCLA. For further information, go online at
www.reprise.org.
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