"Amélie," the new musical based on the offbeat 2001 French film that made a star out of a pixieish Audrey Tautou, does more than translate for an American audience the tale of a minor miracle worker who stumbles upon love while trying to brighten the lives of others.
The show, which is having its world premiere here at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, boldly transfigures the whimsical charms of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's movie into sparkling musical comedy.
Imagine one renowned pastry chef reinventing another's famed crème brûlée. Naturally, they're different, but the innovative lightness and crackly caramelized coating have the same desired effect.