“The Fantasticks” reviewed by Rick Moskovitz

[rating=3]Do you want to see a great show at a great theatre? Go see the Fantasticks at the Skokie Theatre. I have to admit, I am biased for this show. My brother, Jeff Niles was in this show 4 times in the past. I totally enjoyed this production. Being a singer & musician myself, I usually am critical, but this show & staging is wonderful.

Let’s start with the Skokie Theatre. As a kid, many of us went there to see movies. It was dark & dingy. The contrast is amazing! It is bright & comfortable. It is has been acoustically remodeled as a jazz venue. I’ve been on the stage & I love it. A great theatre, especially for a small show as the Fantasticks.

The Fantasticks is a legendary show, the longest Off Broadway show in history 42 years & an 11 year revival).

The voices in this show are beautiful! Not a weak link in the bunch. Edward Maclennan as El Gallo is a great leader of the group. Matt & Luisa, the lovers make a great pair, the 2 fathers, Darryn Glass & Mark Anderson are very funny. Brad Davidson (Henry) & Nate Hall (Mortimer) are as good a vaudeville, slapstick pair that you will find. Lily Jean as the Mute makes you imagine the wall that is not really there.

A great set & lots of whimsy. Everything goes wrong with a pretend feud love story. How will it end? Will the boy & give ever get together?  The cast is having fun & you will too.

editor notes “The Fantasticks is based on an Edmond Rostand love story “The Romancer” and was converted to a musical in the 1960’s by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones. The story is about two widowers, who live next door to each other. One has a son, the other a daughter and  they feel the only way they can bring these two youngsters together is to pretend to feud. It works. Or does it? For over 60 years this simple, yet elegant musical has graced smaller venues and is always a crowd please. It is a magical musical.

You’ll even recognize some of the hit songs, “Try to Remember,” “Soon It’s Gonna Rain,” “They Were You.” The musicians are also terrific.

Running Time: Two hours and five minutes, with one intermission.

Go see the Fantasticks before it’s gone. Running September 6 to October 6 as part of Madcap Productions 2019—2020 Play Series.

Performances are as follows:

Show Type: Musical

Box Office: 847-677-7761

Tickets are $45 /students $38

skokietheatre.org/fantasticks.html

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“The Fantasticks”.