MONMOUTH – After seeing seven productions of “The Fantasticks” in the past 30 years, I’m pleased to say that the Theater at Monmouth rendition of the show was the best I’ve ever seen – bar none.
Outstanding vocals, great characterizations and some inventive bits gave new life to this show, one that has the distinction of being the longest running musical in theater history.
This charming show from the book written by Tom Jones and score by Harvey Schmidt finds two fathers, Hucklebee (Bill Van Horn) and Bellomy (Frank Oram), conspiring in a fake feud designed to bring together their respective offspring, Matt (Will Harrell) and Luisa (Rebecca Myers). They’ve concluded that the surest way to drive their offspring into each other’s arms is simply to forbid them to do it. And so the youngsters secretly meet and fall in love.
All of the action takes place on a sparsely set stage. Props and transitions are provided by the character of the Mute (Jeri Pitcher). A piano player, Marcia Gallagher, tackles all of the musical numbers.
Their scheme successful, the two fathers enlist the assistance of a bandit named El Gallo (Mark S. Cartier) to stage an abduction of the daughter to end the false feud when Matt conquers the villains in a less-than-mighty sword fight.
But what seems like endless bliss for the couple soon sours as Matt goes out to discover the real world, and Luisa is charmed by the scheming El Gallo.
Cartier is the foundation of the show as the thoughtful narrator turned sly villain. Always one to create a fine character, Cartier gives his all in this part with a melodic voice and great timing, both comic and dramatic.
As the young girl, Myers is tenderly innocent with a solid soprano voice that dominates the stage. Harrell is equally strong in vocals and is genuinely convincing as the starry-eyed, somewhat awkward young man. Together, they perform magic in tunes such as “Metaphor,” “Soon It’s Gonna Rain” and “They Were You.” Their physical differences – Myers short and sweet and Harrell tall and lanky, add a cute element to their interactions.
Van Horn and Oram have a ball with the two catchy parental numbers, “Never Say No” and “Plant a Radish.” They play the parts with a vaudevillian flair that works well. Van Horn is a lovable curmudgeon who wears a Red Sox cap throughout the show. Oram is hysterical in his fatherly role, playing it with a thick Maine accent. The audience roared when he described the Mute as being “wicked cunning.”
In a twist I’ve never seen done in other productions, the duo playing the fathers also play the two Shakespearean actors who assist in the abduction, Henry and his sidekick, Mortimer. It is a great gimmick that allows the actors the fun of multiple roles.
If you like a small-scale musical in an intimate setting with top-notch performers, “The Fantasticks” at the Theater at Monmouth will fit the bill.
Dan Marois is a producer, director and actor who has written well over 100 theater reviews for the Sun Journal. He can be reached at [email protected].
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