AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

Theatre Royal, May 1

★★★★ ½

An American in Paris, the stage musical, has got it all. Powered by dance, it is a love story set in a romantic city with glorious music, witty dialogue, a touch of drama and a happy ending – for the main characters anyway.

And this Australian production makes the most of these assets with high-quality performances and presentation that lift you into another world for a precious two hours and 20 minutes.

The Gershwin Brothers, George and Ira, wrote the memorable songs: I Got Rhythm, The Man I Love, ’S Wonderful and so many more. They wrap you up in sound and energy, delivered by a feisty cast and an eloquent band directed by Vanessa Scammell.

For this production, inspired by the 1951 film, direction and choreography were handed to the English-born, international choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. While he is a product of Britain’s Royal Ballet, his skills extend to all kinds of dance, including a big tap number for those who might think fondly of the original.

In Robbie Fairchild, as the central character Jerry, he has a magical dancer. This is a man who can walk across the stage like an ordinary human – then suddenly take off in the lightest, fastest steps that have him practically floating. He can also sing and act, and in a bit of a ballet joke, he leaps around the stage almost at the end in a series of aerial acrobatics you might see from the prince in Swan Lake.