**** Highly Recommended Kokandy Productions always seem to choose edgy, unique, sometimes odd, but always interesting musicals. Amélie definitely fits that criteria. It’s dreamy, romantic, charming and very, very French. I’m not sure exactly how Director Derek Van Barham achieved a blocking miracle! The available space is miniscule, but everyone fits somehow as they keep moving into different configurations – all without bumping into each other or the audience. 4 BIG Spotlights
Raphael Poulain (Kelan M. Smith), a germophobe, and his neurotic wife Amandine (Rachel Carreras), had one child, Amélie (Aurora Penepacker). Isolated as a child, she watched the world through a telescope. She imagines that her goldfish, Fluffy (Quinn Rigg), can speak to her, World’s Best Friend, at least until her mother makes her dump Fluffy into the river. To make it up to her, Amandine takes her on an outing to Notre Dame, which thrills Amélie, World’s Best Mama. Just then, a crazy person jumps off the cathedral, landing on Amandine. Raphel builds a shrine to his wife, complete with a garden gnome.
The piquant and charming Amélie now works as a waitress at a café in Montmartre where she’s made some friends, quietly doing things to improve the lives of those around her. On the night of Princess Diana’s death, she found a box filled with childhood treasures which belonged to the man who’d lived in her apartment before her. She decides she must return the box to him, just missing him all over Paris.
Along the way, Elton John (Todd Aulwurm), wearing a blinding white suit, sings Goodbye, Amélie to her. Later, Raphael and that garden gnome serenade her with There’s No Place Like Gnome.
Kudos to Scenic & Lighting Designer G “Max” Maxin IV for the charming Paris café. In addition to the central open area furnished with tables and chairs, there are reminders of Parisian life everywhere you look.
By the way, I was blown away by the musical abilities of the cast. In addition to acting and singing their hearts out, they all played instruments, usually carrying them along wherever they went.
The ensemble cast: Todd Aulwurm (Hipolito Jeunet, Elton John). Lucas Burr (Blind Beggar), Rachel Carreras (Amandine Poulain, Philomene de Noirpois), Sonia Goldberg (Gina Wells), Joe Giovannetti (Nino Quincampoix), Sam Hook (Lucien Villeparisis), Mizha Lee Overn (Georgette Cornuel, Sylvie Legrandin), Jon Patrick Penick (Collignon, Julien Dufayel), Quinn Rigg (Joseph Cottard Fluffy Poulain). Samantha Ringor (Suzanne Sacripant) and Kelan M. Smith (Raphael Poulain, Bretodeau).
Amélie was written by Craig Lucas based on the 2001 movie of the same name. Daniel Messé wrote the music and collaborated on the lyrics with Nathan Tysen. It premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2026, then opened on Broadway in 2017. It was substantially revised for a West End opening in 2019. This production, the Chicago premiere, is directed and choreographed by Kokandy Artistic Director, Derek Van Barham with Music Direction by T.J. Anderson and Anna Wegener.
The Kokandy production of Amélie runs through September 28th in the Chopin Downstairs Studio, 1543 W. Division Street, Chicago. Parking is hard to find in this neighborhood. I recommend using one of the parking apps.
Running time is two hours, 15 minutes, with an intermission. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00 pm; Sundays at 5:00 pm. Tickets range from $45-$55. FYI www.kokandyproductions.com.
