David O’Doherty has a great joke about Amélie Poulain - from a distance it seems like having her as your girlfriend would be really fulfilling, but actually on a day-to-day basis she’s a bit of a pain in the arse.
In their imaginary interaction, he asks her if she can sort out the direct debit for the internet company. “No, because I took the piece of paper and I made it into a boat and I put it on the river!” she replies.
This sums up Amelie pretty well - frustrating in her quirkiness, but utterly charming in small doses - and Amelie the Musical, running at the Gaiety Theatre this week, is thankfully just small enough.
Adapted from the 2001 movie, the show tells the story of the titular character’s quest to improve the lives of those around her with random acts of kindness.
Along the way, she falls in love with a handsome stranger - but a childhood spent in isolation has made her too shy and awkward to approach him.
Audrey Brisson is enchanting as the doe-eyed Amelie, her petite frame belying a powerful singing voice. She’s also confident performing some of the more acrobatic moves required of her on stage, thanks to years with Cirque du Soleil.
Danny Mac, whom you may recognise from Hollyoaks and Strictly Come Dancing, reminds us how multi-talented he is with an impressive performance as Amelie’s love interest, Nino.
In fact, much of the cast are a quadruple threat - singing, acting, dancing and playing instruments on stage.
Yann Tiersen’s iconic compositions are sadly not featured but the songs are catchy and likeable. The show is visually stunning too, with atmospheric lighting and a beautiful set transporting you right back to 1990s Paris.
The choreography is inventive and fun, with lots of little surprises to keep your attention. Caolan McCarthy's impression of Elton John had the audience in stitches, as did the various puppets used throughout the show.
All in all, it’s a little gem of a musical that’s far less twee and cloying than it could have been. Bien joué!
You can catch Amelie the Musical at the Gaiety Theatre until June 1. Get your tickets here .
