tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post8092819430691781350..comments2024-03-21T22:19:26.920-05:00Comments on A Follow Spot: Charm for the Holidays in "The Shop Around the Corner"JulieKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12521424567356348282noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-68993717695771169852019-07-10T10:23:04.977-05:002019-07-10T10:23:04.977-05:00I went back after all this time, and my review mak...I went back after all this time, and my review makes no mention of Ilona, so I think that plotline might've begun with "The Shop Around the Corner." Or maybe I just didn't mention it in my review. Hard to know. If I dig up the program and verify, I will let you know.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09651581562685500199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-45595271127998214332011-12-03T12:00:19.010-06:002011-12-03T12:00:19.010-06:00Wow, my thanks to Mr. Harris too! That's real ...Wow, my thanks to Mr. Harris too! That's real indefatigability!<br /><br />But what of Ilona? Was she still Ilona? Was the character even there?JAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942256334004773509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-51391543342143199752011-12-03T09:36:38.755-06:002011-12-03T09:36:38.755-06:00University of Illinois did it in summer rep a few ...University of Illinois did it in summer rep a few years ago. Steve Keen played Maraczek. At least I think he was Maraczek, not Matuschek. Maybe he will stop by and tell us!<br /><br />They did it with seating on three sides, I think, and had this adorable little jewel box of a set. Or perfume box of a set. Lots of pink and black, as I recall.<br /><br />I went to see if I had a copy of the review and I do. It was part of U of I's Summerfest in 2004. The owner of the parfumerie was Mr. Hammerschmidt (played by Steve), and the couple was Albert and Amalia, with Arpad and Sipos working there. My review also says that James Berton Harris, who was running Summerfest at U of I then, had a terrible time finding an English translation of "Parfumerie," pretty much looking all over the world, and then he ended up back at U of I in its Rare Book and Special Collections Library, where Sam Raphaelson had donated a translated copy to the university with his papers.<br /><br />So, anyway, I'm still saying thanks to James Berton Harris (who also did the costumes for that production) for keeping up his search. Now that I re-read the notes, it seems there aren't that many of us who've seen "Parfumerie"!JulieKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12521424567356348282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-14317602526378980012011-12-03T05:05:28.507-06:002011-12-03T05:05:28.507-06:00You've seen "Parfumerie"? I've a...You've seen "Parfumerie"? I've always wanted to, and never had the chance.<br /><br />I do think "She Loves Me" does a bit better justifying the antagonism, and having it go both ways -- based on almost nothing, just the sort of initial passing irritation that can get get blown out of proportion and develop into a feud. Georg resents that Maraczek hired Amalia over his objections, makes a remark, she responds, and so it goes.JAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942256334004773509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-87042930344406143862011-12-02T21:38:16.261-06:002011-12-02T21:38:16.261-06:00Yeah, Margaret Sullavan hasn't held up well fo...Yeah, Margaret Sullavan hasn't held up well for me. I don't think I thought much about her when I saw the movie when I was younger, because I found the plot and ambiance so delightful. Now Klara seems really mean and petty early on, while Kralik is pretty nice to her. She explains that at the last possible moment (reading a novel about a woman in the Comedie Francaise) and that helped a little, but otherwise, Klara seemed rude and unpleasant for no reason, and I didn't like Margaret Sullavan's persona well enough to get past that like I might've for Jean Arthur or Barbara Stanwyck.<br /><br />I also noticed how closely "She Loves Me" keeps to the same character types and plot lines, with the exception of giving Ilona something to do. I've seen "Parfumerie," and I know a lot of it is the same there, too, but I don't remember if Ilona got more story or not. I think Ilona is the only one whose name stays the same through "Shop" and "She Loves Me." Matuschek/Maraczek is close, but not exact.JulieKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12521424567356348282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-91086880864045110392011-12-02T19:55:35.026-06:002011-12-02T19:55:35.026-06:00Julie, with all our conversations about this movie...Julie, with all our conversations about this movie, I don't think I ever knew that you weren't that crazy about Margaret Sullavan. I'll confess she charms me just like she's supposed to; I find her distinctive voice and manner and looks very appealing. I'm in total agreement about James Stewart in this -- he's such a deft and delicate romantic lead, it's almost a different person compared to his later aw-shucks persona. So the two of them make quite a formidable couple for a romantic comedy, for me.<br /><br />The Roundabout Theatre in NYC is presenting a one-night benefit performance of "She Loves Me" this Monday as a fundraiser. With Josh Radnor and the ubiquitous Kelli O'Hara in the leading roles, Gavin Creel (replacing Steven Pasquale who replaced Cheyenne Jackson) as the ladies'-man, Jane Krakowski as the object of his interest, Michael McGrath as the employee who doesn't want to be noticed, and Victor Garber as the boss.JAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942256334004773509noreply@blogger.com