‘She Loves Me’ not

REVIEW. “She Loves Me,” is the final bow of the Huntington’s artistic director Nicholas Martin. Plodding along for nearly three hours, the musical never delivers the kind of great moments that send you out into the street smiling and singing songs from the program.

Based on the play “Parfumerie,” (which was also the inspiration for the films “The Shop Around the Corner” and “You’ve Got Mail”), “She Loves Me” is the tale of two anonymous, love-struck pen pals who unknowingly work side by side at a perfumery and hate each other.

Though Martin brings out some big names for his swan song, the production’s biggest problem is the lack of romantic chemistry between his leads. Aside from her “Vanilla Ice Cream” moment in Act II, Kate Baldwin’s Amalia Balash is so abrasive she couldn’t possibly be the object of anyone’s affection. And Brooks Ashmanskas, though musically competent, is far too flamboyant to be the romantic lead.

The supporting cast fares much better however. Troy Britton Johnson is quite funny as the buffoon lothario Steven Kodaly and Jeremy Beck is especially enjoyable as Arpad. But the night’s big winner is Jessica Stone, who steals everyone’s thunder as Ilona and delivers one of the few perfect musical moments.

‘She Loves Me’
Through June 15
Huntington Theatre
264 Huntington Ave., Boston
MBTA: Green E Line to Symphony
$15-$75, 617-266-0800
www.huntingtontheatre.org