THE 1041C Theater Reviews

I loathe musicals. I can think of a plethora of things I enjoy more than love stories. Shakespeare isn’t exactly an author I’d indulge in. Considering all of those preconceived notions, I am pleasantly surprised to reveal that I loved The Fantasticks. So many things went right in the performance that I couldn’t help but forget all the things that are wrong in the world.

The off Broadway is currently hosted by Snapple Theater, which is also referred to as the Jerry Orbach Theater as tribute to the original El Gallo. The entrance to the theater is easily missed due to the overshadowing Duane Reade. The venue takes place on the third floor of the theater, which requires a harrowing trudge up some very high steps. The floor is decorated with sheet music, posters and photos that tell a story regarding the production. Factors like the intricate part the piano plays, the longevity of the play, and the history are all made evident through these details.

I was startled at the size of the theater.  I’ve seen small theaters but this one takes the cake. The first thought that ran though my head when looking for my seat was that there are absolutely no bad seats.  There is a little elevation added to the last couple of rows (I counted six rows in the center). The stage consists of a hard wood floor and four poles at each corner. From these hangs the banner The Fantasticks. It’s utilized repeatedly in the performance.

If you haven’t guessed it yet, I might as well come out with it. There is no fourth wall in the performance. From the grand introduction to the moving conclusion the audience is front and center. I’d hate to ruin it for those who haven’t seen it yet, so I’ll just summarize that there’s loads of confetti and lots of laughs to go around as well. The absence of the fourth wall stays true throughout the play, as the Narrator continues to interact with the audience through questions and movement. The other cast members join here and there, but the tall, dark and suave Narrator definitely seals the deal.  That was the basic consensus of the wise ladies sitting behind me.

The set is created with a box filled with creative props. Confetti and streamers are used in a multitude of ways, especially in the direction of the audience.  I’ll leave rest of the secrets in the box alone. The four poles at each corner of the set are utilized through a multitude of physical activities such as leaping to and fro. The seats actually shake a little from all the action. This made the performance more interactive.

I was surprised at the intricacy of the lighting system. It accomplished emotion, scenery, and transition through intensity and color.  Transitions from moonlight to sunlight, from forest to backyard, and from fall to winter are established through lighting, El Gallo gets his own shade as well.  It showed how colorful the play is physically and emotionally.  It also contributed a spotlight here and there that delivered some laughs.

Now what is this emotional love story consist of? There are two acts that revolve around two different emotions. These emotions revolve around the sun and the moon. It starts off as the basic boy meets girl next door and they fall helplessly in love. It turns into a crime of passion, as the fathers get involved with the mysterious El Gallo.  The influence that Shakespeare had on the conceptualizing of the play is evident through whimsy. Though the story is basic at best, the combination of acting, set, stage and lighting made me give up predicting the ending and enjoy the play as it went. I wanted to be surprised. I wanted to be grasped and pulled into the performance.

Speaking of acting, it was fantastic! (Sorry, couldn’t hold it back) My personal favorite was the Mute, played by Matt Leisy. I couldn’t help but follow him wherever he went. Somehow the role with no lines could contribute not only props, but emotion as well. He was the master of the box, and the tamer of confetti. This is no representation of the acting potential of the rest of the cast. It’s just a personal preference. Edward Watts had the height, the voice, and the talent to make The Narrator/El Gallo the lady charmer he was meant to be. The boy of the story, Matt, is played by Erik Altemus. He was goofy at times which could be considered a perfect fit with a young man in love. I wasn’t too fond of it. Juliette Trafton played Luisa, the girl next door. She did justice to the sixteen year olds out there who are insane for love. I didn’t doubt for a second her insanity. Matt and Luisa are not the couple that stood out.  Bill Bateman and Gene Jones gave life to Bellomy and Hucklebee, respectively. They are the patriarchs that balanced each other from the color of their stripes the method of their gardening. There are no small actors, just small roles. I’m omitting two very colorful characters because I enjoyed being surprised at their entrance, and wouldn’t want to ruin it for others. I would like to express a grand bravo to MacIntyre Dixon and Michael Nostrand. They definitely owned my smile for the night.

The acting and the music flowed as one, with a live harp and piano complementing every leap, clap and stomp.  Robert Felstein reined the piano with elegance and sway.  Being in the same room with an actual harp was a new experience, and Jacqueline Kerrod made the experience a memorable one. I will wait patiently for the next opportunity to hear a live harp and think of her as my first.  I’ve also found a place in my heart for the song Try to Remember.

The one negative aspect came from the audience.  Maybe for a larger theater, eating and drinking can go by unnoticed. But everything is within hearing distance in a small theater. The amount of sick people didn’t help either. Common decency wouldn’t hurt once in a while

I left the theater with my red piece of confetti, a song in my head, and a smile. Musicals are not for everyone, but this one can tame even the harshest critic: my mom. It was her first time at this kind of a performance and I can tell you that I see more in our future.  So in the wise words of Hucklebee and Bellomy, “never say no!”