The cast of Gigi. Photo: Joan Marcus.

By DCist Contributor Rachel Kurzius

At its core, Gigi is your typical romantic comedy. The musical, which is about a wealthy playboy falling in love with a family friend’s granddaughter as soon as her dress starts clinging in the right places, has all of the necessary ingredients for an early aughts Sandra Bullock vehicle. Clumsy, naive ingenue? Check. Jaded-though-charming male romantic lead? Of course. Wisened elders? You better believe it. The requisite makeover scene? It’s all there, plus a choreographed number about how lawyers don’t deserve to sit in chairs.

Thanks to a sharp production full of spectacle, and charismatic secondary actors, the fluffy Gigi— first a novella, then movie, then ill-fated ’70s Broadway musical— is an enjoyable watch. This version of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Lowe’s classic (but short-lived run) is making a pitstop at the Kennedy Center before heading back to Broadway, with direction from Eric Schaeffer.

Vanessa Hudgens, best known for her star-making turn in High School Musical, gets top billing as Gigi. She’s adorable in the role, and can hit all of the notes and dance moves in her songs. Still, she plays Gigi as a girl who gets by on her giggles, with no sense of intelligence underneath. For fans of the 1958 Oscar-winning movie on which the show is based, this is disappointing.

Set in Paris in 1900, Gigi features some updates to the novella from Heidi Thomas. Presumably, modern-feeling bits like Gigi pointing out romantic lead Gaston’s (Corey Cott) privilege in being rich and male come courtesy of Thomas’ refurbishing, though these updates don’t really gel with the rest of the show. In many ways, the play is a lot like its lead character— enchanted by wealth and its trappings while, at the same time, creeped out by the vapidity of the upper class. It’s an odd, if ultimately human, line to straddle.

As Gaston, Cott acquits himself well, especially in the musical number where his rage towards Gigi makes him realize that he has fallen in love with her (for fans of Clueless, it’s very reminiscent of Cher’s “Oh my God…I love Josh” scene). He is so emotive, though, that it’s tough to buy him in his more blase moments.

The juiciest parts in Gigi belong to the older generation—Gigi’s grandma Mamita (Victoria Clark) and aunt Alicia (Dee Hoty), and Gaston’s uncle Honoré Lachaille (Howard McGillin). Clark and McGillin have two charming numbers together that ooze a sense of worn-in comfort and electricity simultaneously. Hoty milks her role as a world-weary courtesan and makes the most of her many one-liners.

Joshua Bergasse’s choreography helps tell the story rather than distract from it. The angular dancing captures the gossipy world of the Parisians, while more fluid motion shows the particular drunkenness that accompanies champagne-drinking. Ultimately, Gigi itself is much like drinking champagne— bubbly and sweet with a quick buzz that soon fades.

Gigi runs at the Kennedy Center through February 12. Tickets, $45-150, available here.