Review: Crown City Theatre Revives THE FANTASTICKS

The Fantasticks/book & lyrics by Tom Jones/music by Harvey Schmidt/directed by Lisaun Whittingham/musical director: William A. Reilly/Crown City Theatre Company, NoHo/through June 5

The longest running musical in the world The Fantasticks is always at its best when produced and performed with simplicity. When I first saw it in New York in the 60s, it was performed in a cabaret space against a brick wall, with the suspension of a paper moon above. You can't get much simpler than that. In their revival Crown City Theatre keep it simple with minimal blocking from director Lisaun Whittingham and boasting a fine cast...

Based on a short play by Edmond Rostand called Les Romanesques or The Romancers, The Fantasticks has an old-world European flavor in its retelling of Pyramus and Thisbe and Romeo and Juliet, replete with melodramatic elements, but light, never overbearing. Invoking the mood of a pastorale or rustic musical play popular in the 16th century, it is meant for a small stage and small orchestra. Musical director William A. Reilly is at the piano - that's it, and Whittingham uses audience space for a few entrances and exits, keeping the action clean on the moderately small stage. Since the word 'tableau' is used to describe the portrait of the two families with El Gallo (Kurt Andrew Hansen), our attention should focus center stage. There is a silent stage manager or Mute (Cyle Conley) who brings on the props or helps remove or reset the curtain. Of course, El Gallo is the Narrator who sets the scene and nurtures us to observe the moral at hand.

For those unfamiliar with the basic story, two parents - usually both fathers - divide their houses with a wall to keep their maturing children away from one another....on the surface. Crown has made an interesting choice here making Luisa's mother, played by Lisa Stanley, the other parent; John Ross Clark is Hucklebee, Matt's father. Shayna Gabrielle is Luisa and Michael J. Marchak, Matt. The parents pretend to feud in order that their children will rebel and fall in love. They really want the marriage using reverse psychology to get the children interested in one another. They set up an elaborate abduction, bring in the actor El Gallo, who with the assistance of two other actors Henry and Mortimer (Jerry Hoffman and Sean York respectively), seduce Luisa, while allowing Matt to rescue and save her in a duel with the perpetrator El Gallo. After all is made well, the families reunite and the wall is torn down, only to leave the young couple bored, disillusioned and cynical about this happy state of affairs. Both start arguing as their parents had and split, desiring to seek new and fascinating adventure in the outside world. Of course, as in life, both encounter devastation and turmoil - with the help again of the three actors - and return safely to their happy state, learning to appreciate what they already have, the simple joys of life.

The cast work very well together. Hansen is strong, dashing and wonderfully sly and mischievous as El Gallo. Gabrielle as Luisa adds sweetness and lust for adventure to her character, as well as a lovely lilting soprano voice. Marchak as Matt should be slightly less exuberant, letting his masculine urges come from the inside. As is, he is a bit overly enthusiastic and needs to pull in somewhat. Stanley is delightful as Bella, Luisa's mother, with big broad comedic strokes and a wonderfully theatrical singing voice. Clark as Hucklebee is more straight forward in his approach. Hoffman does his best with the Old Actor Henry, fumbling and fowling up the act, with the younger York right behind him, enjoying every grimace and pratfall. Conley is just terrific as the Mute, as he doesn't miss a move, sprinkling snow or stardust, even from the ledge behind the lovers.

Amanda Walter's costumes and the scenic design are perfectly simple, and William Reilly accompanies wonderfully at the piano, as always. Nice touches produced on video with projection design by Danny Davalos and Noelle Cruce!

Overall, I found some actors' work to be a little pat on opening night, but this often happens after a full week of tech and dress rehearsals. Many are tired and end up going through the motions, without taking risks/going for broke. After a few performances, actors will be at ease and literally slide into their roles, enjoying fully what they are doing. It should prove a bonafide hit for Crown City and play past its June 5 deadline.

Bravo once more to Crown City Theatre Company and to director Whittingham, for trying to make it all work as simplistically as possible. "Try to Remember" to go see The Fantasticks, until June 5. You will especially savor the lovely mellow music of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt.

www.crowncitytheatre.com

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