[NEohioPAL]"The Fantasticks" Review in the Akron Leader 9/23/04.

[Pamela Sago]

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Fantastic review!  The show runs one more weekend (this coming weekend) at 8 p.m. and the WRP Barn is a gorgeous setting for a show set in September . . .
 
Akron Leader - September 23, 2004
Leader Online     www.akron.com

‘The Fantasticks’ is fantastic theater 

Western Reserve
Playhouse stages
popular musical  


By David Ritchey 
BATH — “The Fantasticks” is one of the gentlest, kindest musicals in American dramatic literature. That gentleness may explain why the show has been so successful and why it has made its way to the stage at Western Reserve Playhouse (WRP). 
“The Fantasticks” opened on May 3, 1960, and ran for 17,162 performances before it closed Jan. 13, 2002. It holds the record as the longest-running musical in the world and the longest running play of any kind in the United States. The Fantasticks” was written by Tom Jones (book and lyrics) and Harvey Schmidt (music), after they met as students at The University of Texas. This duo also wrote the popular musical “I Do! I Do!” 

“The Fantasticks” concerns next-door neighbors, who want their children to marry. They plot a fake feud, build a wall between their yards and forbid their children to speak to each other. The fathers think that children will always do the opposite of what they are told to do. The fathers are right, and the result, of course, is a love story, wrapped up and tied with romantic music. 
“Try to Remember” and “Soon, It’s Gonna Rain” are the two most famous songs in the score. Other songs from the show have achieved popularity, because the show is produced so often. In fact, currently, The University of Akron also is staging a production of “The Fantasticks.” 

The WRP production has much merit. The major improvement in this production is the addition of Matthew Bennett (musical director), who knows how to work with a cast. He conducted extensive vocal drills, musical warm-ups and musical rehearsals. He kept the music (and, therefore, the pace of the show) moving quickly. “The Fantasticks” can become too sweet and melodramatic without a brisk pace to prevent the production from turning maudlin. 
The set is a black platform and a few stools on the stage, a simplicity that fits the script. The small cast fills the playing area and projects to the back row without microphones. 
Judson “Leigh” Heckerman (The Narrator and El Gallo) commands the stage with an economy of movement and flashing eyes that seem to pierce into the audience. Heckerman has a pleasant singing voice, and his acting ability should move him to the A-list of actors in Northeast Ohio. Heckerman listens to the other performers and responds to what he hears without ever stealing a scene. Adrienne Sereta (Luisa) is gifted with a quality singing voice. She is studying for a career in musical theater at Baldwin-Wallace College, the foremost musical theater program in Northeast Ohio. 
Irv Korman (Henry, the old actor) and Bob Rauch (Mortimer) take the stage for their scenes and never let go. Henry and Mortimer are the remains of an acting company. Henry quotes Shakespeare’s more famous lines, and Mortimer plays long, complicated, funny death scenes. Korman takes a small role and produces a well-defined character that becomes a gem in the production. He is a good comedic actor. 
Rauch brings physical humor to his role. In his death scenes, he thrashes about, gasps and demands the audience watch his every death move. 
Both men received applause at the end of their big scenes. 
“The Fantasticks” is a family show and a date play. This romantic play continues through Oct. 2. For tickets, call (330) 620-7314. 


David Ritchey has a Ph.D. in communications and is a professor of communications at The University of Akron. He is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association. 




		
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<DIV>Fantastic review!  The show runs one more weekend (this coming weekend) at 8 p.m. and the WRP Barn is a gorgeous setting for a show set in September . . .</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Akron Leader - September 23, 2004</DIV>
<DIV>Leader Online     <A href="http://www.akron.com">www.akron.com</A></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><SPAN class=text33>‘The Fantasticks’ is fantastic theater </SPAN></P><SPAN class=text33>
<P><SPAN class=text28>Western Reserve<BR>Playhouse stages<BR>popular musical</SPAN><SPAN class=text83>  </SPAN></P></SPAN>
<P>
<P><SPAN class=text20>By David Ritchey </SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text15>BATH — “The Fantasticks” is one of the gentlest, kindest musicals in American dramatic literature. That gentleness may explain why the show has been so successful and why it has made its way to the stage at Western Reserve Playhouse (WRP). </SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text15>“The Fantasticks” opened on May 3, 1960, and ran for 17,162 performances before it closed Jan. 13, 2002. It holds the record as the longest-running musical in the world and the longest running play of any kind in the United States. The Fantasticks” was written by Tom Jones (book and lyrics) and Harvey </SPAN><SPAN class=text15>Schmidt (music), after they met as students at The University of Texas. This duo also wrote the popular musical “I Do! I Do!” <BR></SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text15>“The Fantasticks” concerns next-door neighbors, who want their children to marry. They plot a fake feud, build a wall between their yards and forbid their children to speak to each other. The fathers think that children will always do the opposite of what they are told to do. The fathers are right, and the result, of course, is a love story, wrapped up and tied with romantic music. </SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text15>“Try to Remember” and “Soon, It’s Gonna Rain” are the two most famous songs in the score. Other </SPAN><SPAN class=text15>songs from the show have achieved popularity, because the show is produced so often. In fact, currently, The University of Akron also is staging a production of “The Fantasticks.” <BR></SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text15>The WRP production has much merit. The major improvement in this production is the addition of Matthew Bennett (musical director), who knows how to work with a cast. He conducted extensive vocal drills, musical warm-ups and musical rehearsals. He kept the music (and, therefore, the pace of the show) moving quickly. “The Fantasticks” can become too sweet and melodramatic without a <SPAN class=text25>brisk pace to prevent the production from turning maudlin. </SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text25>The set is a black platform and a few stools on the stage, a simplicity that fits the script. The small cast fills the playing area and projects to the back row without microphones. </SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text25>Judson “Leigh” Heckerman (The Narrator and El Gallo) commands </SPAN><SPAN class=text25>the stage with an economy of movement and flashing eyes that seem to pierce into the audience. Heckerman has a pleasant singing voice, and his acting ability should move him to the A-list of actors in Northeast Ohio. Heckerman listens to the other performers and responds to what he hears without ever stealing a scene. </SPAN><SPAN class=text25>Adrienne Sereta (Luisa) is gifted with a quality singing voice. She is studying for a career in musical theater at Baldwin-Wallace College, the foremost musical theater program in Northeast Ohio. </SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text25>Irv Korman (Henry, the old actor) and Bob Rauch (Mortimer) take the stage for their scenes and never let go. Henry and Mortimer are the remains of an acting </SPAN><SPAN class=text25>company. Henry quotes Shakespeare’s more famous lines, and Mortimer plays long, complicated, funny death scenes. Korman takes a small role and produces a well-defined character that becomes a gem in the production. He is a good comedic actor. </SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text25>Rauch brings physical humor to his role. In his death scenes, he thrashes about, gasps and demands </SPAN><SPAN class=text25>the audience watch his every death move. </SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text25>Both men received applause at the end of their big scenes. </SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text25>“The Fantasticks” is a family show and a date play. This romantic play continues through Oct. 2. For tickets, call (330) 620-7314. </SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text18><BR></SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text18>David Ritchey has a Ph.D. in communications and is a professor of communications </SPAN><SPAN class=text18>at The University of Akron. He is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association. </SPAN></P></SPAN>
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