An American in Paris: Exploring the Costumes

I watched An American in Paris on Broadway HD. I didn’t really know anything about this production, so I was shocked how much I enjoyed it. I thought the fusion of classical dance and more traditional musical theatre was really cleverly done, and was overall enthralled by the storyline and design of the entire production.

The story is set in Paris, in 1945 just after the war. This is clearly reflected in all the garments and hairstyles, which reflect typical mid-1940s styles, however, the characters are all in character or jazz shoes to allow them to cope with the huge dance feature of the production. The audience is introduced to Jerry, an American soldier, which is reflected in his traditional military uniform. As he runs through the streets of Paris, he spots one girl who stands out from the crowd, due to her pale clothing in comparison to the darker colours of the set and other costumes, and her short hair compared to many of the other women wearing headscarves. This lets the audience know she is someone important to the storyline, although she is not formally introduced. Furthermore,the Swastika armband worn by one woman as part of this ensemble-based scene stands out in red, to show the mood at the time, and how fearful the population still were to those associated with the Nazis.

Jerry arrives at a cafe, where he meets Adam, who is also a war veteran and is now seeking a job as a pianist. His drab brown attire matches the brown of the city, showing that he fits in well in Paris, and his attire also suggests that he is not particularly rich. Furthermore, his trousers are the exact same tone as the piano in the room, showing his love for the piano, and he also has a stand out red stripe in his vest, which is possibly an ode to the brutality he witnessed during the war, and his permanent limp as a result. We are also introduced to Henri, a rich Frenchman, whose attire is much smarter, suggesting his high status. His suit is also in cool tones of blue, showing his difference to Adam in warmer tones, and the yellow bow tie is an ode to his jolly personality. In this scene, Jerry and Henri are in much lighter costumes compared to Adam, showing their much more positive outlook on life, however, all 3 still blend well together, as shown through the common tan tone in their costumes, showing despite their differences, they are friends.

At the ballet hall, we are introduced to another character, Milo, who is dressed in more modern attire, showing her youth. Her garments are also red and black, to show the power she has due to her wealth, and also to show her headstrong nature. Jerry is dressed in a simple blue shirt, which shows his calm persona and casual outlook on life, which also shows the contrast between his and Milo’s personality. Madame Baurel, Henri’s mother, arrives, dressed in much more traditional attire in comparison to Milo, to show her age in comparison. The green colour is also quite mellow, suggesting she has a fairly calm personality, but also has a very sophisticated air, which suggests her high status. She is accompanied by ballet director Mr Z, whose scarf makes him stand out, and black jacket shows his power and strict, almost intimidating nature. The auditioning ballet dancers appear, dressed in shorter skirts, as well as ballet tights and shoes, to show the style, however, the 1940s setting is still shown in their tops and hair. Olga, the ballet mistress, also blends into the dancers in similar beige/brown tones, as she is not the focal point from the scene, however she is distinguishable by her longer, more traditional skirt. Lise then appears, and due to her signature hairstyle, the audience recognise her as the girl seen at the start of the play. Her blue and white spotted dress stands out from the other dancers, and shows that she is different from them, as well as showing her youth through the print. The blue colour also matches Jerry’s blue top, to show their previous relationship, and odes to how similar the two are. Adam also reappears, this time in a blazer on top of his other garments, to show his promotion, as it is revealed he will compose the new ballet. Finally, the audience is able to compare Milo and Mr Z as the two stand together after the audition, as Milo convinces Z to direct the ballet with Lise as the lead after she takes a liking to her. Milo’s predominantly red attire stands out more, showing her dominance over Z, however the two still match with a red/black colour scheme for each, showing how they must work with one another to create the ballet.

Lise, who formally works at a perfume counter, is dressed in blue, as well as all the other women who work there. The blue colour and conservative style show the high class nature of her place of work, and give the whole scene a more sophisticated air. Jerry appears, and he stands out among the other men who are all dressed in long coats and hats, showing his more carefree spirit. Furthermore, him and Lise match, as both have white collars and pocket tops, and are in blue, showing the undeniable connection between them. During the musical number that follows, Lise’s dreams are revealed as highly rich women in large colourful skirts and hats, and the men are dressed in white blazers dance together, which creates a pretty, almost ethereal effect, and shows Lise’s want for a happy and carefree life, different from the drab, everyday colours of the streets of Paris.

At the Baurel household, as Madame Baurel removes her coat, we see a black and white floral lining, which further shows her classiness. The audience also fully notices her red hair, which shows her slightly fiery, no-nonsense nature. Lise appears in a light blue patterned dress, which matches Henri in blue, as it is revealed the two are a couple. However, the two still don’t completely match, as Lise’s attire is much more light and casual compared to Henri’s, and had a red accent instead of his yellow, suggesting the two maybe aren’t a perfect match. Mr Baurel is also introduced, in a dark grey suit which shows his sophistication. Lise leaves to visit a cafe to write a letter to her mother, and in the background, Adam appears. His red jumper matches the accents in Lise’s dress, as it is revealed that he is in love with her, however, the audience can see that the two don’t match at all, suggesting Adam’s love is unrequited. Jerry then appears for his meeting with Lise, and the spark between the two is still apparent, as Jerry’s light blue shirt matches Lise’s dress perfectly, suggesting they are the most well suited.

As all three men sing about their love for Lise, Jerry is dressed in white trousers and a dark blue top, which is still very light and casual, but is slightly different to his previous attire, to show how his relationship with Lise has affected him- he also wears the same colours that appeared in her dress when the two first met properly to show the extent he thinks about her. Henri also wears a white jacket, which symbolises his proposal to Lise, and also sets Adam as the anomaly of the trio, as he has no chance of securing Lise amongst the other men. The lighter colours of both Jerry and Henri also continue to show their more positive outlook on life, however, Jerry also fits in well with Adam stylistically, showing he is almost the buffer of the friendship, as a combination of the 2 other men.

Milo invites Jerry to her apartment. She is dressed in green, and the silhouette is much more traditional and sophisticated, which reminds the audience of Madame Baurel’s previous attire, and suggests Milo’s want to fit into upper class Parisian society. However, her garment still has some more modern black details to continue to show this side of her, and her red nails and lipstick show her passionate, naughty side beneath her sophisticated appearance, as it is revealed that she wants to build a casual relationship with Jerry. Jerry contrasts hugely with Milo in all ways- his muted blue, casual, matte attire with white detailing contrasts with Milo’s bright green, dressy, shiny attire with black details, showing the two are very dissimilar characters. The performance then goes into a few quick dance scenes- at the gallery, all the ensemble are in blacck, so as to not draw the focus away from Milo and Jerry. Jerry and Lise then meet briefly, with both in blue and white to show their connection, and to really show the contrast between Lise and Milo. Next, at the ballet rehearsal for the new production, Lise continues to stand out against the ballet chorus (in all black) in blue. Milo then reappears in leopard printed attire, which draws the focus back to her, and shows her modernity. Lise then reappears in a yellow dress, which stands out amongst the black ensemble even more, to show how special she is. The similar colour palette but very different styles and print also continue to highlight how different her and Milo are from one another, and the yellow colour also links her to Mr Z in his yellow scarf, to show his control over her in the production. It also reminds the audience of Lise’s growing relationship with Henri now the two are engaged, as the yellow matches his bow tie. Finally, the floral print shows Lise’s delicate, almost fragile personality, as well as her youth and femininity.

At the costume party which closes Act 1, the ensemble is mostly in a combination of black and red garments. Jerry stands out as an outsider to the upper class of society, as he is not in red/black, making him appear different. Milo’s bright red dress also makes her stand out, showing she still doesn’t quite fit into this crowd despite her growing wealth and connections. Lise and Henri also match the ensemble, showing the audience that in reality, Lise is a part of this world, and not Jerry’s.

Act 2 opens up at the Baurel household. Madame Baurel is in blue, to show her high status, as blue is typically a royal colour. The style and fabric also continue to show her classy and sophisticated nature. Henri matches his mother also in blue, to show their family connection. Adam, in contrast, is in red tones, to show his difference in status from Henri, despite his position improving slightly now he is composing the ballet and playing at the party, as seen through his smart blazer and tie. Jerry, again, is a mix of the two men- he has the blue colour from Henri to show his increasing status as a result of his relationship with Milo, but has no waistcoat, showing he is still not a part of the upper class. Milo is in a tan dress with heavy black lace details, which shows her power and influence, as well as her showy, modern persona. The colours in Jerry’s tie also match Milo’s dress to show the relationship between the two. As the small ballet production starts, the dancers are dressed in a very different style of costume to the guests, to show the story they are telling, but the costumes also blend into the background due to their colour, as they are not the focal point of the scene. Lise then arrives, and stands out amongst the dark attire of many of the other guests in pale yellow, to show despite her now classier appearance, she still doesn’t quite fit in with the upper classes. As Jerry and Lise talk, the audience is again reminded of how well the two of them match, as Jerry’s white shirt compliments Lise’s pale dress. We also see Henri and Milo together, who are a much better fit due to the classy nature of their garments, and also, the texture on Henri’s bow tie matches the black lace on Milo’s dress almost perfectly, showing there is a connection between them. Milo also wears a huge diamond, suggesting her wealth, and also her want to prove to the Baurels that she fits into upper class society. Adam also doesn’t match with either pair, further cementing his outsider status, however, the tans and blacks in his and Milo’s outfits match, to show the rejection they have both faced by the ones they love respectively.

At the nightclub where Henri and Adam are about to perform, the costumes worn by the performers are hugely different, and very elaborate with lots of sequins and feathers. This shows how far the nightclub is removed from traditional society, and its modernity and difference. Adam is dressed in a red, sparkly waistcoat to match the feel of the club, but also to show his anger when he discovers Lise is engaged to Henri. Henri himself is also in similar attire, to show his anger at Adam’s outburst. Lise arrives in pink and white, which shows her youth and innocence, and the show begins. Henri and Adam both appear onstage, however, Adam is in a white blazer, suggesting he has the upper hand over Henri in this scenario, as he is a more seasoned performer, and has less of a reputation to worry about. Halfway through the show, as Henri’s confidence improves, the audience sees his dream of performing on a Broadway stage, due to the glitzy showgirl costumes worn by the dancers and Henri’s traditional tails and top hat, which really reminds the audience of the traditional Broadway image. The removable headdresses on the girls which turn into huge feather fans is also a very clever transition, and is done seamlessly to create an even bigger effect. As the performance comes to an end, the other Baurels and Milo arrive at the club, who stand out due to their predominantly black outfits, to show they don’t belong in this world. Milo’s trousers, however, do match the scene, showing she is more modern and less traditional than the other two. The contrast between Henri and his parents is clear, showing the difference in Henri’s dream life to the one he has in reality, however, his father wears a red tie which matches Henri, showing that he accepts his dream. Jerry also stands out hugely in a dark pattern and paisley tie against Henri, suggesting the real difference between the two, however Lise sides better with Henri here, to show she is more on his side as it is what is expected of her.

At the ballet debut, all 3 men are dressed very formally in black tie, to show on this ground, they are on an equal societal playing field. It also helps the audience to view Henri and Jerry as equals, suggesting that this is now how Lise sees them, as Jerry presents her with a drawing expressing his love for her. Milo also appears, dressed in a black floral dress, which contrasts massively to Lise in pink floral, showing the huge difference between their personalities. As the ballet begins, the dancers wear modern, more contemporary style costumes which help to show the change in society after the end of the war, and also the different culture of Jerry’s heritage. Lise’s longer, flowier yellow dress therefore stands out even more, and her partner is dressed in similar colours to show their connection. Halfway through the show, Lise changes into a black dress onstage, which is almost unseen by the audience. Her partner in the scene that follows is revealed to be Jerry, also in all black, to show the wrongness of their love, but also the depth of their connection. The small red details on each also show their passion and love, and makes them stand out from the rest. However, at the end of the show, Lise is back in yellow, to show her relationship with Jerry is impossible, and can never be.

After the show, Madame Baurel congratulates Lise, and is dressed in a very classy, purple dress to continue to show her status. Henri and Milo also match in black, showing how well suited they are to one another. Jerry, Henri and Adam are left alone onstage, and they all sing about the effect Lise has had on them. In this scene, all three men are dressed similarly,to show the equal impact she has had on their lives. However, Henri and Adam are both in blazers to show their acceptance that their love for Lise is over, whereas Jerry is just in a shirt, showing his vulnerability and his love for her that still remains. At the Seine, Jerry and Lise meet again, and Lise accepts her love for Jerry, choosing him over Henri. The two match perfectly in white, and as they dance, the audience is reminded of a wedding, suggesting they are perfect for one another.

Overall, I really loved this production, and thought the costumes were really cleverly done to show each character and their relationships. I especially love how different styles and fabrics were used throughout to show status, and each character also had a consistent style/theme, to show their personality throughout.

An American in Paris: Exploring the Costumes

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