Review: The Phenomenal Force of THE FANTASTICKS at Monomoy Theatre

Everyone is familiar with the idea of wanting something that can't be had, whether that be a person, an object or just an unreachable goal; the idea of making it ours is almost too tantalizing to not pursue. What happens when that which is so desired becomes attainable? Almost without reason do things begin to go awry: that person once so sought after no longer shines as the beacon of light in the throes of the night, the idea of love, given a chance to grow into something more, is instead squashed when the magic of moonbeams gives way to the literal light of day.

So "try to remember" a time when you wanted something so much that nothing could stop you from getting it, through the thick and thin of possible failure. Then imagine, whether it happened this way or not, you finally attained it - it's finally with you. How can you possibly think of ever letting it go, and could you imagine that you, of all reasons, could ever be responsible for it going away?

Welcome to The Fantasticks at the Monomoy Theatre, where love is beautiful because of how imperfect we all are, and how sometimes we really just have to figure it all out for ourselves.

With book and lyrics by Tom Jones, music by Harvey Schmidt and Rust and loosely based on the play The Romancers (Les Romanesques) by Edmond Rostand, The Fantasticks boasts the honor of being the world's longest running musical; it opened in 1960 and has been going strong for over fifty years in New York City.

Arriving on the Monomoy stage under the direction of Alan Rust, The Fantasticks is the first production of this show I have seen, and I believe it to be the most utterly captivating production that has been on this theater's - rather any I have seen this summer - stage in quite some time. This is not only because of the rather basic but wonderful plot of a boy falling in love with a girl, being torn apart by no obstacles but themselves and then brought back together through what seems like an almost realized fate. It is not just because of the beautiful music provided by a very talented pianist and harpist - music which accompanies this story that teeters between our reality and fiction.

It lies in the fact that even before you find your seat, you are instantly aware of the mood that will be set in this world the audience will become a part of for the next few hours by allowing the set alone to transport you there. Monomoy can always pride itself on its wonderful sets, but with this show in particular did it have an added effect in again associating the reality we know with the somewhat farfetched nature of the show.

It is also how the actors who take part in this show are unbelievably invested in the characters they play, never allowing for a moment any dullness to creep into the energy and momentum this show requires and exudes. To be very straightforward, what Monomoy has done with this production puts it at the top of my list of the greatest productions I have seen there so far. This show is quite the wonder both visually and musically, and everyone will really, very much love this one.

The Fantasticks tells the story of Matt and Luisa, two teenagers who fall in love through the literal presence of a wall that their feuding fathers built to keep them apart; of course by telling their children "no" do boy and girl fall ever more in love. It turns out that the fathers are in fact good friends and decide to stage an elaborate heist to make Matt appear the hero and therefore end the apparent "feud" between the two families. With a successful staged heist and rescue, the two young lovers are given free reign to be married, so what could possibly go wrong? When reality steps in and each discovers that the other appeared better in the pale moonlight instead of the harsh light of day, tensions arise as they try to rekindle the love that was before the wall ever came down.

This "show within a show" is quite the feat to pull off, as it requires the actors to exude constant energy, to bring a dedication to their characters that must be constantly proven on stage and overall just need to keep the quick momentum of this show going so that the drama never ceases to amaze. And that they do with flying colors (and sometimes leaves of confetti).

Jack Plozay as the Narrator (El Gallo, and make sure you say it correctly!), Caroline Jackson as Luisa, Tyler Pisani as Matt, Nate Healey as Hucklebee, Daniel Shea as Bellomy, Mac Westcott as Henry, Gavin McNicholl as Mortimer and Billy Saunders, Jr. as the Mute round out of the best casts that could possible bring this show to its feet. Each actor (especially Pisani and Jackson) seems to simply and effortlessly fall into their roles, as though they were meant to play them all along. The evident excitement and dedication brought forward in the presentation of these characters, not to mention the talent of all these Hartt students past and present, gave me zero reason or desire to divert myself from the production in any way, and I really appreciate the way this show and everything about it simply "clicked."

There is just so much movement and plot development happening at once, and from the simplest facial expression when no one is watching (coming from those like el Gallo and the Mute), to a song beautifully sung with the upmost of confidence these characters absolutely need to keep the audience on its feet as the plot thickens, this is really one of my favorite productions of the summer. I am proud fort this cast and am glad that this show is enjoying a slightly longer run than usual.

Kudos to Music Director Phil Rittner on piano and Annelise Ellars on harp for being the tag team to bring such a wonderful score to life, a score which includes songs like "Try to Remember," "Soon It's Gonna Rain" and "They Were You." Choreographer Annmarie Davis, Scenic Designer Nicole Bianco, Costume Designer Alex Allison, Lighting Designer Andrew Garvis and Production Stage Manager Molly Burch complete the stellar crew responsible for the show that is The Fantasticks.

So, if you want to see true magic happen on stage, please go and see The Fantasticks at Monomoy Theatre, located at 776 Main Street in Chatham. Performances began July 28th and will run thru August 6th. Performances take place Monday thru Saturday @ 8p.m., with a special matinee performance August 4th @ 2p.m. Tickets are $27-$29 and may be purchased by visiting the box office in person, by calling (508) 945.1589 or by visiting www.monomoytheatre.org/.

Enjoy the show!

Photo Credit: Dawniella Sinder

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