Boston Conservatory presents ‘She Loves Me’
Berklee students beautifully stage the beloved Broadway musical
Photo courtesy of Nile Scott
Photo courtesy of Nile Scott
She Loves Me
Based on the novel by S.E. Hinton and the film by Francis Ford Coppola
Directed by Danny Pelzig
Boston Conservatory Theater
Nov. 5–8, 2026
Berklee students performed the musical She Loves Me at the Boston Conservatory Theater from Nov. 5 to 8. The heartfelt production was charming and polished.
The musical is an enemies-to-lovers story with, of course, a catch. Georg Nowack (Aidan O’Brien) and Amalia Balash (Maggie McClure), coworkers at a Budapest perfume shop — Maraczek’s Parfumerie — bicker constantly in person, yet they are also anonymous pen pals who have fallen for each other through letters. In the letters, Georg and Amalia are generous and honest. However, in person, they are extremely guarded.
Act 1 introduces Maraczek’s shop and the clerks who fill it. Amalia talks her way into a job by selling a customer a musical cigarette box, and she and Georg clash almost immediately. Meanwhile, they plan to anonymously meet each other at the Café Imperiale over letter. Amalia is stood up by the anonymous writer, “Dear Friend.” When she sings the line “then as if it weren’t bad enough, a violin starts to play,” onstage violinist Oliver Fiorello steps in with a solo, which was a funny touch, and the timing with the orchestra in the pit was impressive. The act closes with Georg visiting Amalia while she is home sick, and their rivalry begins to soften.
In Act 2, Georg’s confidence grows as Amalia slowly opens up to him, though she is still waiting for her mystery correspondent. Georg’s “She Loves Me” was a highlight; during the song, he exclaims his love for Amalia while crossing through the audience seating. The story builds to a resolution in which Georg finally reveals himself as the writer of the letters. The final scene, with snow falling as the characters confess to each other, was theatrically perfect.
The whole cast had great energy. The leads carried the show, and the supporting players made the shop feel lived-in. O’Brien played Georg with an earnest charm, and his shift from awkward rival to openly devoted admirer was convincing, while McClure thoughtfully depicted a proud, sharp, and vulnerable character in Balash. Nicholas Page played Arpad Laszlo and was a crowd favorite. His bright, cheerful energy lightened the mood whenever the clerks often conflicted.
The stage decor was also a highlight of the night. Cast members moved the set pieces themselves, which made the transitions seamless, and the actors interacted with the sets in humorous ways. The choreography was exciting and dramatic, which suited the production; it let the actors show big, emotional moments even in a smaller hall. The pit orchestra was excellent and gave the singers solid support throughout. The hall’s energy was overflowing, helped by plenty of Berklee classmates supporting their peers. With a strong cast and impressive staging, the show was an easy one to fall for.