“We’ve been deprived of art for such a long time. It’s an honour and a privilege to be able to be back on stage again.”
Those are the words of Leanne Cope, Tony and Grammy Award-nominated actress, best known for originating the role of Lise in the Broadway and West End productions of An American in Paris.
And now, she’s bringing Lise to Australia.
An American in Paris has been hailed as a tour de force, telling the tale of a young American soldier and a beautiful French girl. It’s a well-known story, brought to the screens in 1951 featuring Gene Kelly as Jerry and Leslie Caron as Lise, and set in Paris as the city emerges from the shadows of World War II and Nazi occupation.
The magic of Paris is brought to life through songs from George and Ira Gershwin, like I Got Rhythm and They Can’t Take That Away from Me, among others.
While inspired by the film, the current production does make some changes, but it still focuses on its two central characters. War veteran Jerry is trying to succeed as an artist in Paris, when he falls in love with Lise, a young dancer, who is engaged to marry Henri, a businessman whose family saved Lise’s life during the war.
Cope said it is a privilege to be playing Lise for Australian audiences, especially with the extra challenge of coming back to dancing following the birth of her daughter.
“I love a challenge,” she told The AJN. “I didn’t know after COVID whether I would dance again, especially becoming a mother, whether I would perform again. And then when this opportunity came, I thought, ‘well, why not try?’ And like I said before, it’s a privilege and an honour to be able to bring this role here.”
For Cope though, it’s the combination of art forms that she appreciates most about An American in Paris.
“Not only have you got your standard musical, but within that musical you have all the orchestral works of George and Ira Gershwin,” she explained. “And then you’ve got tap, jazz and all your ballet,” she said before emphasising that while other musicals certainly include ballet, this is a “ballet ballet”.
“If you can’t say it, you sing it. And if you can’t sing it, you dance it.”
“It really ticks so many boxes. Plus, you’ve got a fantastic storyline, great characters throughout, amazing songs. There’s something for everyone in there.”
For many audience members, while An American in Paris has a lovely story and magnificent music, it’s all about the choreography, which has been described as elegant, extravagant and intricate. And it’s where the musical really shines.
“I think that’s what [director and choreographer] Christopher Wheeldon has done so fantastically well,” Cope said.
“If you can’t say it, you sing it. And if you can’t sing it, you dance it. There are ways of expressing things through movement that you can’t express in words. The show very much demonstrates that.”
The production features dancers from the Australian Ballet, like Dimity Azoury, sharing the stage with seasoned musical theatre performers, like Cope. It’s tricky, but it works.
Azoury and Cope alternate playing Lise, just like Robbie Fairchild, who originated the role of Jerry in the Broadway and West End productions, will be sharing the role with Cameron Holmes of the Australian Ballet.
Cope encourages people to buy two tickets to see both pairs, saying “[Azoury] is going to be wonderful to watch.”
With its timeless love story, classic score, and exquisite dance numbers, An American in Paris is a breathtaking musical that brings love, light and hope back into the world.
“The story of the liberation of Paris and suddenly everyone having freedom, for me, correlates very much to what we’ve been through over the past few years around the world,” Cope said.
“The message of the show is, after the darkness, there’s always light. All these characters, they’ve been through difficulties and had their own journeys throughout the war. It mirrors life now. We don’t know what anyone’s been through in the world. When you meet someone, let them have a clean slate, don’t presume. Because everyone’s stories unravel eventually.”
As people sit in the audience entranced by the music many of them would know so well and charmed by the flawless choreography, Cope wants to evoke a feeling of hope. Hope about the world around us and hope about the future. Because everyone should be hopeful for the light in the darkness.
An American in Paris will be showing at the State Theatre March 18 – April 24, before travelling to Theatre Royal, Sydney on April 29. Book tickets.
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