[NEohioPAL] UNSOLICITED REVIEW OF MY FAVORITE YEAR - Mary Faktor (the actor ; -)

[mary faktor]

I attended the Preview Performance of MY FAVORITE YEAR and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!  I've loved the musical sound track of this little known show for many years and couldn't wait to finally see it performed!  I was NOT disappointed! In fact, I enjoyed myself so much, I'm ordering tickets to return with 4 friends for a second performance next week.  I highly recommend you don't miss this little known fun musical comedy.  While I enjoy deep, dark and depressing theatrical presentations like Jekyl & Hyde or Sweeney Todd, it's fun sometimes just to see theater that simply entertains, makes you smile, and sends you out humming the tunes.  MY FAVORITE YEAR does just that.   
   
  
  Now, I may be dating myself here, but I was a little girl when performers like Sid Ceasar, Imogene Coca, and Milton Berle ruled the television screen with their live comedy shows.  Later, as a teen, I watch the Dick Van Dyke show, as he, Buddy and Sally worked as comedy writers for the "Alan Brady" show.  MY FAVORITE YEAR, in my opinion, totally captured that era and brought back endearing memories for me.  I recommend bringing  your mom, dad, or favorite person over age 50 and have a fun, bonding experience.  If you bring a younger person, you may want to educate them into the television history of the 50's before the days of video games, tivo, dvd's, and text messaging...otherwise they won't "get it." 
   
  Matthew Wright could not have been more endearing and captivating in his role of Alan Swann.  (Peter O'Toole, in the non-musical movie version had nothing on him.) From the first second of his initial entrance, he ruled the stage, making it hard to take my eyes off him for fear of missing some nuance of his character.  
   
  Equally fantastic in their roles were Jean Zarzour as Benji's boisterous mama and Rachel Spence as the comedy writing Alice.  They could not have been more perfectly cast in their comedic roles and carried their musical numbers beautifully.  
   
  The rest of the cast also did a fine job.  We need to remind ourselves that the entire cast isn't Equity or professional non-equity, and most are not paid for their performances.  Therefore, I don't compare them to the long-time pros mentioned above.
   
  The sets were a bit clumsy and the dancing wasn't strong, but this show isn't about the sets or the dancing.  This show is about the message.  The message of second chances,  the message of loving people unconditionally, the message of father's who screw up and children who forgive them, the message of being true to yourself instead of trying to bury your pain with booze or drugs, the message of speaking what is in your heart, the message of making a living with your creative talents..the message of living in the NOW...all wrapped up in old-fashioned fun.  
   
  MY FAVORITE YEAR runs through June 8 at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood.  For ticket information call 216-521-2540.
   
  Warm hugs and a double dimpled smile from...
  Mary Faktor (the actor ;-)
  www.FaktorsTalentNetwork.com
  888-913-3473 

       
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