The Fantasticks

by Len Hart

Back in 1960, few could have known that an improbable musical called "The Fantasticks" would become the world's longest running musical --on or off Broadway. Like many things "New York", the 'Fantasticks' might have fallen victim to 911 but, in fact, it's closing had been announced on September 6, 2001. Like all closings theatrical, a general decline in box office sales and attendance was blamed. In a run of some 42 years, the "Fantasticks" established an enviable record of 17,162 performances --a record.

The opening met mixed reviews but eventually became the most frequently produced show with 11,000 productions in some 3,000 cities and towns. Forty-four original investors were pleasantly surprised by a 19,465% return on their initial contributions. By comparison, "Cats," the longest-running show in Broadway history, finished last September at a measly 7,485 performances.

"The Fantasticks" announced its closing once before -- in 1986 -- but a flurry of business kept it going. By the end of 2000, the show had grossed more than $23 million.

--Curtains for 'The Fantasticks'

The musical is known for the songs "Try to Remember" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain" and is often called a "mock version" of Romeo and Juliet" because the two families do not really feud as is the case in Shakespeare. In the 'Fantasticks', rather, two fathers feign a feud to encouraging young love with a bit of 'reverse psychology'.

Syracuse Stage's production is composed of a treasury of talent. Amster's actors master his choreography during the "Abduction Ballet" scene, wherein El Gallo and his two cronies kidnap Luisa and feign defeat at Matt's hands. Emmy award-winner Norris commands attention as Henry, "The Old Actor," whenever he speaks. Studwell's baritone voice booms as El Gallo during the famous number "Try to Remember" and cooperates with Matt's equally capable singing during their duet, "I Can See It."

Marrero costumes the cast in excellent, eclectic garb. To name a few, El Gallo sports a swooshing cape, the fathers wear comfy-looking overalls and gardening gloves, Mortimer dresses as a pirate, and the Mute in her horizontal-stripe outfit looks like she came directly from an avenue in Paris.

Bradley's inspired set design also seems influenced by artistic references; in the beginning, El Gallo enters in front of a cloudy backdrop with a bowler hat and a green apple covering his face, much like the Magritte painting "The Son of Man." Later, when Luisa and Matt meet in the woods, The Mute "pulls" down another large backdrop of cubist-ish depictions of leaves. The wooden stage itself, though, remains true to the original Fantasticks - it looks flat and spare but is full of hidden openings for actors to scoot in and out of and to hold innovative props like musical instruments for the Mute to discreetly discover and sound off.

--Mark Tedeschi, Syracuse stage's production of long time favorite

The Fantasticks is a sentimental favorite with me. As a high-schooler, I played "Mortimer" –the man who dies. It was a local, amateur production in an improbable part of Texas. But we played to packed houses every night. My character, that of a grandiloquent old Shakespearean, was not intuitive, not a case of 'type-casting' to be sure. Nevertheless, I managed to do a 'hammy' death scene for lots of guffaws and an ovation.

They Were You

Jerry Orbach: Try to Remember

Soon it's Gonna Rain (The Fantasticks)

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