REVIEW: Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays at the Cobb Energy Centre in Atlanta

Last night I had the pleasure of visiting Billy Crystal at his childhood home on 549 E. Park Avenue in Long Beach, Long Island, New York along with a house full of eager Atlanta theatre goers at the Cobb Energy Centre. We all, of course, were there to see Billy Crystal perform his critically acclaimed, Tony Award winning show, 700 Sundays, but what we got was so much more than a night of entertainment.  Don't get me wrong, we were thoroughly entertained (more about that in a moment) but, more importantly, we were warmly welcomed into the memories of this accomplished comedian and actor and laughed and cried along with the story of his life.

Considered a "one man show" by many, that description is somewhat misleading because 700 Sundays bursts with a plethora of characters from Crystal's life growing up on Long Island (all masterfully presented by Crystal himself). I lost track of the number of unique family members and friends we met, from Crystal's uncles and aunts and grandparents, to the Jazz legends who hung around their house and his father's record store to his two brothers, his mother and most importantly his father, who inspired the name of the show (700 Sundays is the estimated number of Sundays Crystal had with his father before tragically passing away when he was 15). It is through these important and influential people that we, the audience, were given a glimpse into the excitement and love that was ever present in the Crystal household.

The other pre-conceived notion I went into the show with was that we were simply in for a night of laughs and Crystal's signature shtick. The comedy was definitely present in full force, often bringing the audience to tears, laughing along with the antics and unique situations Mr. Crystal painted for us. However, real tears were also present, and at least for me, somewhat unexpectedly.  For Crystal's life, as full as it has been with jokes and laughter, has also included his own share of tragedy and loss. And it is the expert balance of these emotions throughout the evening that truly made for an emotional, but extremely satisfying journey.

Though the show focused primarily on Crystal and his stories, these were accented by a beautiful set designed by David F. Weiner. The childhood home setting not only serves as the one and only set piece (in an extremely faithful recreation of the front façade of 549 E. Park Avenue) but also as the canvas for just the right amount of photographs and vintage 8 mm films (taken by Crystal's father) of the key moments in his life (Projection Design is by Michael Clark). So what looks to be a deceptively simple backdrop becomes the living embodiment of Crystal's memories, effectively filling in some of the visual gaps for the audience.

All in all, 700 Sundays was an extremely enjoyable show and, gauging from the reaction of the opening night audience, that was definitely something we could all agree on.  Running at just under 3 hours (including  a 15 minute intermission) the show is a bit on the long side, but Crystal's pace and timing make you lose all sense of time during the show, a feat most actors on stage alone might find to be a challenge. Be aware that Crystal's humor does occasionally include some choice language and situations not suitable for younger patrons, but for a unique and enjoyable holiday gift (or date night), 700 Sundays delivers in spades. If you are going to see the show, act fast, because Sunday afternoon (December 20^th) is, appropriately, the closing performance.

Tickets for 700 Sundays can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-982-2787 or at the Cobb Energy Centre box office.  Prices start at $55.

The remaining show schedule for 700 SUNDAYS is as follows:

Thursday, December 17                8 p.m.
Friday, December 18                    8 p.m.
Saturday, December 19                8 p.m.
Sunday, December 20                  3 p.m.

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Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

 

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