Jürgen Hooper as Nathan Wanamaker in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Wanamaker's Pursuit. Photo by Mark Garvin.

There’s something special about Paris. There’s a magical quality to the place, that city of romance, art, fashion, and expression. It changes people. And Paris is where the Arden Theatre Company’s “Wanamaker’s Pursuit” takes us, for a glimpse into a world where a fictional young Wanamaker heir mingles with the likes of Gertrude Stein and Pablo Picasso.

It’s 1911, and young Nathan Wanamaker (yes, of those Wanamakers) has ventured to Paris, all the way from his home in Philadelphia, to bring back the latest French fashion for his grandfather’s store.  He has in his hands a letter of introduction to Leo and Gertrude Stein (yes, that Gertrude Stein). He’s hoping they can introduce him to noted French fashion designer Paul Poiret. Wanamaker is determined to convince Poiret to license his garments for the Philadelphia Wanamaker’s department store.

But before Wanamaker can make any real headway with Poiret, Paris has already started to have an effect. Wanamaker is spending time with the Steins at the ballet, attending parties, meeting artists, discussing Cézanne, and most importantly, falling in love. No matter how determined Wanamaker is to lure in Poiret and not go back home empty handed, he can’t deny that Paris is pulling him further away from Philadelphia and everything he knew there.

“Wanamaker’s Pursuit” has everything a person could want in a great play: memorable characters, witty one-liners, sage wisdom, passion, and top-notch production values (from the sets, to the costumes, sound design, etc.).

The casting for “Wanamaker’s Pursuit” was done so perfectly, as it has been for every Arden Theatre Company production that I’ve seen. David Bardeen plays Leo Stein, who laments at being born in the wrong era; Wilbur Edwin Henry plays designer Paul Poiret, who believes he is nothing without his wife as his muse; Catharine K. Slusar plays Gertrude Stein, the sagely writer and patron of the arts; and Shawn Fagan, who amazingly plays four different characters, including Pablo Picasso.

The leading lady of the production is Geneviève Perrier, who takes on the role of Denise Poiret, wife of the designer that Nathan Wanamaker is trying so hard to win over. Denise is the type of woman that every woman wants to be and every man wants to have, possessing both good looks and charm that would win anyone over.

L-R: David Bardeen as Leo Stein, Shawn Fagan as LaRue, Catharine K. Slusar as Gertrude Stein and Geneviève Perrier as Denise Poiret in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Wanamaker's Pursuit. Photo by Mark Garvin.

And then, of course, there’s Jürgen Hooper, who plays the titular character, Nathan Wanamaker. While Wanamaker is falling in love in Paris, the audience is falling in love with him. Hooper has such a wonderfully endearing way about him that fits so perfectly with the character that the playwright Rogelio Martinez has created. I found myself immediately invested in Wanamaker’s life, his loves, his losses, his future, and his past. I loved watching how Paris was changing Wanamaker, even when the character didn’t seem to realize it himself.

“Wanamaker’s Pursuit” is yet another wonderful Arden production, and I’m so glad I decided to give this new play a chance (and you should too!). The show runs now through Sunday, May 22, 2011, and is part of The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts. Tickets range in price from $29-$48, and can be ordered online at www.ardentheatre.org, at the box office, or by phone (215-922-1122).

The Arden is located at 40 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (Old City).