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Bells Are Ringing was performed at the Maison de la Culture, Amiens as part of a tour.
Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩
While Singin’ in the Rain is selling out for a second season in a row at Châtelet, another Betty Comden and Adolph Green musical has been touring extensively throughout the French provinces for more than two years now.
Cleverly directed and adapted by Jean Lacornerie, Bells Are Ringing, aside from being one of Jule Styne’s best scores, is a surprisingly relevant yet vintage piece, lending itself naturally to modern treatment. Performing the book in French and the songs in English has the drawback of widening the gap between narrative and number, but has the advantage of allowing us to enjoy the pure wit of Comden and Green’s lyrics.
Originally a star vehicle for Judy Holliday, Sophie Lenoir doesn’t quite manage to fill her shoes as Ella Peterson. Definitely stronger are Jacques Verzier as Jeffrey Moss, Franck Vincent as Inspector Barnes and the excellent Estelle Danière in the supporting role of Gwen. The latter steals the show with her ‘Mu-Cha-Cha’, one of the full-out dance numbers in this version choreographed by Raphaëlle Aggery.
The innovative scenic design by Bruno de Lavenère and lighting by David Debrinay all add up to a very modern version of the Broadway classic, as does the use of video projection, including some excerpts from MGM’s movie adaptation.
Musically speaking, the unfortunate absence of strings and the use of only one piano and four percussionists seems a bit odd at times, especially in the ballads, but after a while it makes this production as musically original and fresh as it is visually daring.
Sadly, apart from a few dates in the nearby suburbs, Paris has been deprived of this innovative production, as it had been of Larcornerie’s equally clever version of Lady in the Dark a few seasons ago. However, Paris does have the Chatelet, and it is also good that the provinces have their own musical theatre education as well!
And what a special treat for me to see, for the first time since the Sophisticated Ladies world tour back in the 1980s, a real American musical comedy classic in my hometown of Amiens…
Patrick Honoré
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