Amélie (musical)

Amélie is a musical based on the 2001 romantic comedy film with music by Daniel Messé, lyrics by Messé and Nathan Tysen and a book by Craig Lucas. The musical premieres at Berkeley Repertory Theatre September 2015.

Background

After a few rumors, Dan Messé confirmed on the Facebook page of his band Hem that he's been commissioned to adapt the movie for Broadway, revealing the creative team.^[1] According to Playbill, Pam MacKinnon is set to direct.^[2]

Berkeley Repertory Theatre Production

Amélie captured our hearts in the five-time Academy Award-nominated film. Now she comes to the stage in an inventive and captivating new musical directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) and penned by Craig Lucas (An American in Paris and Prelude to a Kiss), with a stirring score by Daniel Messé (of the acclaimed band Hem) and lyrics by Nathan Tysen (The Burnt Part Boys) and Messé. Embark on a mesmerizing journey with inquisitive and charmingly shy Amélie as she turns the streets of Montmartre into a world of her own imagining, while secretly orchestrating moments of joy for those around her. After discovering a mysterious photo album and meeting a handsome stranger, she realizes that helping others is easier than concocting a romantic story of her own. After seeing the world through the magical and enchanted eyes of Amélie, you’ll never look at life the same way again.

Plot synopsis

The musical opens with the various characters acting as a Greek chorus of sorts telling of how everyone is connected narrating the story of life going on in Paris involving the lives of all the characters that will later play a part in the Amelie's life including a young Nino finding a photograph. They all follow a "trail of breadcrumbs" that lead to the birth of Amelie on September 3, 1975 (Everyone is Connected). Amelie Poulain is born to her germaphobe father Raphael and mother Amandine a neurotic. Amelie's isolation and emotional distance from her parents causes her to seek solace in a small telescope in which she can observe the world from afar taking in its little details. Her own moment of personal joy comes when her father gives her a daily check up when he comes home from work. Her heart races as it's the only physical contact with her father she has causing him to misdiagnose her with a heart condition (World's Best Dad).

This diagnosis prompts him and Amandine to home school Amelie and cut off any social contact she has with the world to prevent her heart getting over stimulated. In her homeschool classroom with only her goldfish, Fluffy for company, Amandine teaches Amelie about Zeno's philosophy of two objects never being able to touch. There's always another halfway point the object must reach causing the object to always be alone. Throughout the lesson Amelie's imagination begins to take form with her imagining Fluffy coming alive and speaking (World's Best Friend). Fluffy prompts her to let him jump into her glass. An act which causes Amandine to have a nervous breakdown resulting in Amelie being forced to release Fluffy into the Siene. Amandine, to comfort Amelie takes her on a field trip to Notre Dame (World's Best Mom) where Amanadine prays for a sign for guidance about how to deal with Amelie. However as they leave the cathedral Amandine is crushed and killed by a sucidal tourist from Brussels who leapt from the top of it. Amandine's death causes Raphael to become obsessed with building a shrine to house her ashes complete with a garden gnome. Years pass, Amelie is bored of her quiet life with her father that keeps growing increasingly distant so she decides leaves home.

Five years later Amelie is a waitress at the Two Windmills (Five Years) cafe in Montmarte. As she examines the humdrum life she leads where everything goes round in circles, Amelie remains shy and prefers to keep to herself observing the going ons and enjoying life's small pleasures. We also we are introduced to her co workers, Suzanne the cafe's owner who used to work in the circus, Georgette the hypochondriac and Gina. The cafe regulars include Joseph Gina's ex boyfriend who constantly stalks her and Hipolito an aspiring poet.

One night Amelie hears news of the death of Princess Diana which starts a chain of events resulting in the discovery of a box of childhood treasures owned by the man who once lived in her appartment. Determined to find the owner she decides she will anymously deliver the box to him and if the owner is touched by her gesture she will become an anonymous do gooder. Her first point of contact in her search is the cranky grocer Colignon. Colignon consistently abuses his assistant Luicen who is blind and obsessively in love with fruit (Figs). Colignon tells Amelie to go to his mother and gives her the address on the other side of town. She goes to the train station where she spots a young man, Nino. Amelie is instantly drawn to him but ignores it to board the train. When visiting Colignon's parents his father and later mother supply the name of the family who lived in the appartment -Bredotoeau. Returning home she has another minor encounter with Nino. This time Nino is notices her, noting how pretty she is and intrigued by her fascination with the box she has in her hands.

Time passess and Amelie's search for Bredoteau turns up nothing. Until she meets her neighbour Raymond Dufayel- an artist who suffers a brittle bone disease causing him to be called The Glass Man. He tells her the name she seeks is Bretodeau. Dufayel has been stuck in a creative rut and has been constantly repainting The Luncheon of the Boating Party, struggling to find the expression of the girl with the glass at the center of the picture (The Girl With the Glass). As he and Amelie ponder on the Girl and her face's meaning Dufayel makes a subtle parallel to the girl and Amelie's own isolated life.

Amelie finds Brotodeau and calls him from a payphone directing him to the box (How To Tell Time) as he reflects on his childhood and the things he's forgotton and taken for granted, it that prompts him to to call his ex wife and arrange to meet her and their son. Taking this as a sign Amelie actively continues her do gooding including setting up Georgette and Joseph and guiding a blind man down the street.

Later that night Amelie has a strange dream in which she imagines her lavish funeral in the style of Princess Diana with an Elton John tribute to her, in which she as "Godmother of the Unloved" gives so much of herself to help others despite not ever being able to find love. In the midst of it she realises she has yet to help her father (Goodbye Amelie)

The next day she visits her Father trying unsuccessfully to convince him to leave home and visit her some time. When he refuses claiming he can't leave the gnome she secretly steals it. Returning to the station she sees Nino again where in a hurry to catch his train he drops a photo album that Amelie finds.

Exploring the album with Dufayel she sees it is a photo album of unused photographs from photo booths including one of a man that appears over and over with the same expression. It is then that we are introduced properly to Nino, a young artist who explains the meaning of the photobooth photos (Where We Go From Here). As she observes Nino in the distance, Amelie finds in him a kindred spirit. Dufayel, sensing her attraction to Nino encourages her to give the album back and meet him or keep living in a fantasy which keeps her separated.

Amelie seeks out Nino's place of work, a sex shop. As she waits for his return talks to the employees who while mocking him unknowingly continue to paint him as a perfect match for Amelie. Yet when Nino arrives Amelie runs away. Nino chases her throughout Paris to get the album back however she eludes him. She reflects on the childhood lessons her mother taught her about never getting too close to anyone like Zeno's philosophy but remaining halfway (Halfway to Go). Incorporating this philosophy with Nino she calls him refusing to give her identity away but sending him a photo of herself in costume and a riddle to solve.

At the Two Windmills Amelie quietly instigates a romantic encounter with Joseph and Georgette. Then Amelie's father surprsingly turns up telling Amelie the gnome in Amandine's shrine has disappeared but that he has been getting anoymous postcards detailing the gnomes travels. (Travels of a Gnome). The Gnome's travels inadvertently encouraged him to step out of the house to look for him. Amelie uses the opportunity to get her Father to relax and embrace change as well as introducing him to Suzanne with whom he is instantly is infatuated.

Nino meanwhile has been searching the whole of Paris for the mysterious woman handing out flyers with the photo of Amelie around to anyone around him. He wonders how he can be falling for someone who he doesn't even know the name of and who seems to not want to be found (Thin Air). Returning to the shop he gets another photo from Amelie telling him to meet her at Montmarte Carousel.

When he arrives Amelie constructs an elaborate trail for him to lead him to the album. (Trail of Breadcrumbs) While watching him Amelie acknowledges her feelings but also her fear to act on them. As Nino finds the album she calls him about the man in the photobooth. Nino however is more interested in meeting her face to face acknowledging their mutual attraction. She agrees and asks him to come to the Two Windmills on Tuesday.

Tuesday arrives and Nino is late for their meeting. Amelie imagines an elaborate story as to his reasoning (Nino is Late/How to Tell Time Reprise). Meanwhile Georgette is overwhelmed by Joseph's jealousy and accusations. Nino shows up and when he recognizes Amelie she gets overwhelmed and runs. Hurt and tired Nino leaves but Georgette, Gina and Suzanne go after him. As they leave, Amelie returns asking of Nino's whereabouts, Joseph jealously says he has gone off with Gina. Heartbroken Amelie goes home.

Outside the Two Windmills Georgette, Gina and Suzanne relate their own romantic woes and problems with men and demand to know Nino's intentions with Amelie telling him not to hurt her.(A Lover for the Ages) Nino honestly says he is in love with Amelie and he needs to know how she feels for him. Touched by his sincerity, Georgette gives him Amelie's address.

Returning home, Amelie runs into Dufayel she angrily tells him to stay of of her buisness not stopping to hear that he has gotten out of his rut and painted a unique picture- of her. As she gets inside Nino shows up outside her door. He asks to come in but Amelie is conflicted between her love for him and her fear of getting too close. (Stay) . Dufayel calls Amelie and gets her to come to the window showing her the painting he made of her. He warns her if she doesn't stop living her life through others and embrace the love she has for Nino she will end up regretting it. Inspired by his words Amelie finally tells Nino she wants to be with him, without anymore games or riddles. Nino tells her if she loves him even if she's afraid he can meet her halfway (Halfway To Go reprise) and she opens the door. They share a passionate kiss and Amelie takes him to the photobooth where she shows him the answer to the mystery of the man in the photo album. He's the repairman who takes a photo after fixing the booth to check it's working properly. Amelie and Nino go into the photobooth taking their own photos together reflecting on their newfound happiness with each other. As they do so the rest of the cast acting as the chorus looks on and comments on the how the world around them is connected and the trail of bedcrumbs that has brought the young couple to their happy ending. (Finale)

Songs

• Everything is connected- Whole Cast
• World's Best Dad- Young Amelie, Raphael
• World's Best Friend- Young Amelie, Amandine, Fluffy
• World's Best Mom- Young Amelie, Amandine
• Five Years- Amelie, Georgette, Gina, Suzanne
• Figs- Lucien
• The Girl With the Glass- Dufayel, Amelie
• How To Tell Time- Brotodeau
• Goodbye Amelie- Amelie, "Elton John," Chorus
• Where We Go From Here- Nino, Amelie
• Halfway to Go- Young Amelie, Amelie
• Trail of Breadcrumbs- Amelie
• Nino Is Late/How To Tell Time Reprise- Amelie, Chorus
• A Lover For the Ages- Gina, Suzanne, Georgette, Nino
• Stay- Amelie, Nino
• Halfway to Go Reprise- Amelie Nino
• Finale- Whole Cast

2015 Berekley Production Cast

• Amelie-Samantha Barks
• Young Amelie- Savvy Crawford
• Nino- Adam Chanler-Berat
• Dufayel/Colignon- Tony Sheldon
• Raphael/ Bredotoeaux- John Hickok
• Amandine/Philomene- Alison Cimmet
• Suzanne- Maria-Christina Oliveras
• Gina- Carla Duren
• Georgette- Alyse Alan Louis
• Blind Man/Garden Gnome- David Andino
• Hipolito- Randy Blair
• Joseph- Paul Whitty
• Lucien- Perry Sherman
• Swing- Shannonn O Boyle and Jacob Keith Watson

Differences from the Film

Several plot points from the movie have been changed, cut or rearranged including:

• In the film the narrator is one person. In the show to capture the ensemble, interwoven nature of the story all the characters act as a Greek chorus narrating the story when their characters not directly involved in the scenes taking place.
• Instead of a telescope, in the film Amelie's childhood toy is an instamatic camera.
• In the film the name of her friend/ pet goldfish is called Blubber in the show it is changed to Fluffy.
• In the film Amandine and Amelie go to Notre Dame to pray for a baby brother in the show this is changed to praying about coping with Amelie.
• The tourist that kills Amandine in the film is a tourist from Quebec in the show she is from Brussels.
• In the film Hipolito is novelist who has written books that keep getting rejected by publishers. In the show he is an aspiring poet.
• In the film the discovery of the box prompts Brotodeau to reunite with his daughter and grandson in the show this is changed to reuniting with his wife and son.
• When Nino and Amelie first see each other at the station in the film it is shown that she is attracted to him but it is vague as to whether this attraction is mutual. In the show the characters themselves speak out their thoughts to the audience establishing that that it is mutual love at first sight.
• In the film Amelie's stealing of the gnome prompts her father to leave his home and go travelling. Something he stated eatlier on in the film that he wanted to do with Amandine but couldn't because of Amelie's supposed heart condition. He never goes to the Two Windmills or meets Suzanne as he does in the show.
• In the film Nino never arrives at the sex shop when Amelie first attempts to return the album. Instead Nino's co workers tell her to go to the funfair where he also works part time to deliver it. The co workers later tell Nino about Amelie rather than him catching a glimpse of her and chasing her as he does in the show.
• The concept of Zeno's philosophy is never a theme or even mentioned in the film.
• The mystery of the man in the album is solved before Nino goes to Amelie's home. She solves it and leads him to solve it, in the show this is the final scene.
• Dufayel never paints his own work in the film he also interacts with Lucien.
• The roles of Colignon and Lucien are cut down considerably in the show. In the film they interact with Amelie. Amelie later even gets revenge on Colignon for his cruel treatment to Lucien through a series of pranks in his home. Lucien also has a crush on Princess Diana.
• The story Amelie concots to justify Nino's lateness is different in the film. It involves kidnapping, escapes and amnesia ending with Nino becoming a hermit in the mountains. In the show the story involves the idea of Nino possibly being hit by a train after his watch stops, losing use of his limbs and nursed back to health by a Nurse he will marry.
• The character of Madame Wallace, a tenant from Amelie's building is cut from the show completely, in film she is another person Amelie helps by fabricating letters from her deceased husband in order to help her move on
• In the film the Nino's backstory is shown in flashback highlighting the parrallells between him and Amelie. In the show this is cut.
• In the film Nino returns to Two Windmills after solving the mystery of the photobooth repairman to try to find Amelie again. It is Gina alone who decides to discern his intentions concerning Amelie through testing his knowledges of old proverbs. In the show because solving the mystery of the repairman doesn't occur till the end, Nino's arranged meeting with Amelie is the point where Gina along with Suzanne and Georgette face him and try to suss out his motives.
• In the film Nino's flyering around the city occurs after the Montmarte Carousel scene. In the show this is moved to before that scene occurs to build on the love story.
• The film ends with a quick reflection of the various characters and what they do with their lives after Amelie and Nino get together such as Dufayl continue to paint, Hipolito finding a quote from one of his books written on a wall and concluding with Amelie and Nino riding through Paris on his bike. In the show the conclusion is solely focused on Amelie and Nino as they take photos in the booth.

Reception

The opening night review from the San Francisco Chronicle gave the show a rave review saying, ""wit crackles and charm fills the house…in this seamless blend of visual, narrative and performance delights."^[3]

References