Charm and romance bubble up in Berkeley Rep's Amélie

In this age of illusory connection, a story of isolation told through music seems more necessary than ever. Connection with the world and people in it is a central theme of Amélie, the whimsical 2001 film, and it's even more pronounced in the world-premiere musical version of the story now at Berkeley Repertory Theatre's Roda Theatre.

The whimsy has been turned down (not altogether), but the charm and romance have increased ...