The Fantasticks

[rating=3]There is some magic in the air up in Lake Forest as Citadel Theatre brings “The Fantasticks” to the North Shore. For those unfamiliar with this little musical, it is the longest running musical to run continuously. At least back in the day, that is what was said. I guess Google can check this out, but for me this play brings back many memories. The book and lyrics are by Tom Jones ( not the singer) and the music by Harvey Schmidt. This was their first musical, back in their college days. Based on the work of Edmond Rostand ( the writer who gave us Cyrano DeBergerac) called “Les Romanesques” this is a simple love story about a boy and a girl.

In this tale, their fathers, both widowers have decided that they want their children to wed. Knowing that if they were to lead them in that direction, they will do just the opposite, they plan ahead and form a pact. They will feud and build a wall between their houses. If they forbid their children to see each other, and they do the expected, rebel, they will end up married and all will be happy ever after. That is the story, but the way it is told is what made this play so very special as it played to full house after full house in the tiny Sullivan Street Theatre in New York.

I will say that the play is a little “dated”, which can happen after 50 years of performances. Also, with things that have happened over the years, the “Rape” numbers has become more “abduction” and in doing so, loses some of its charm. This script is that of the revival and the changes made were to be more “today”, but I prefer the original version. To me it makes more sense and I can handle it.

The songs in this production are amazingly still beautiful and many of them have been recorded over the years by the biggest stars and recording artists. “Soon It’s Going To Rain”, “Try To Remember”, “Just Once” ( Streisand did a remarkable version on “Just Barbara”), “Beyond That Road” and many more. Each song is a perfect fit to a perfect story. Even though it is dated in many ways, the story is simply about love and let’s face it, we all need love, even more some 60 years later!

The main character in this play , the narrator, hero, villain is El Gallo ( Brian Hupp has the chops for the songs, but I felt his smoothness was lacking). The fathers, who are brilliant comics with solid vocal range are played to perfection by John B. Boss, as Hucklebee ( Matt’s father) and Bill Chamberlain as Bellomy ( Luisa’s father). These men play the comic songs “Make Sure You Never Say No” and “Plant a Radish” just right. Here is where I have to mention the sharpness of director Pat Murphy. Murphy uses the stage and the stairways leading from same quite well. The only problem with the set ( Eric Luchen) is that the centerpiece is supposed to hide the actors from the end of the first act to the start of Act two but it didn’t . The rest of the set and the boxes that held the props and other actors were terrific. Donna Pierce did some great props and Jake Ganzer’s choreography was not where I would have liked. The dance numbers were very limited. I know it is a smaller stage, but it appeared that the actors could move, so why not let them do more?

Luisa ( a marvelous job by Aurora Penepacker) and Matt ( Jonah Cochin) are the “lovers’ and until the second act, I never felt the chemistry that should be felt between these young lovers ( who are in love during the scenes when their fathers are feuding). The rest of the cast are the two actors that ElGallo brings in for the “Rape”,oops, sorry, “Abduction” scene…Mortimer  (John Benischek who dies with great sincerity and Henry ( Henry Michael Odum. They do the abduction scene as Pirates rather than Indians, but they do offer some comic touches to the big scene.

The musical direction is by Aaron Kaplan and the music is handled by Talar Khosdeghian and Kailey Rockwell on piano, Michael Maganuco on harp, Justin Kono on percussion and Eric Von Holst on bass. They are behind the performance area but they make sure we hear every note, never drowning out the vocals by the actors. Diane Fairchild’s lighting , Bob Boxer’s sound and Emily Brink’s costumes round out the production staff who did a powerful job in creating the look , the sound and the feel that this play requires. It needs to feel small, no matter the venue in. They succeeded!

The final performer in this production is The Mute ( here they chose to use a female and that is okay) played beautifully by Kristina Meima. She is solid and while she cannot speak, we know that she knows a great deal more than she shows.

The overall theatrical experience of this production is a charming story about love and how life is not always what one might anticipate. Act One is under the romantic moonlight and Act Two in the heat of the sun. As El Gallo says, their moon was fragile, very apt to fray and what was last night’s scenic  may be synic in the day. If you have never experienced  “The Fantasticks” understand that this is a musical about romance and overcoming one’s obstacles. It is not a typical musical comedy but is one that every young couple should see, at least once and the version that Citadel is presenting , with the exception of the “Rape” scene words, is a smooth running 2 hours and five minutes of charming story telling.

“The Fantasticks” will continue at The Citadel Theatre located at 300 S. Waukegan Road in Lake Forest thru March  8th with performances as follows:

Thursdays  7:30 p.m.

Fridays  8 p.m.

Saturdays  8 p.m.

Sundays  3 p.m.

There will be Wednesday performances at 1 p.m. on February 12th and 26th.

Tickets range from  $40- $45 and can be purchased by calling 847-735-8554 ext 1 or online at www.citadeltheatre.org

Plenty of free parking

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “The Fantasticks”.