This Writer Is Too Ripe, Star trib!

We just finished our second weekend of The Fantasticks, of our five weekend run, and let me tell you, this is one fun show.

The first weekend, a reporter from one of the largest local papers of the twin cities - the Star Tribune - came and saw the show. Out of the three performances that weekend, the reporter decided to go to the Sunday matinee - matinee's are usually less energy than normal, and you will find that in any company that you work (so if you want to see a show at its peak, your best bet is a friday or saturday evening, NOT a sunday matinee). He wrote his report and it was printed last Tuesday. This was his review:

""The Fantasticks" is the musical equivalent of "Our Town" in the simplicity of its physical production and in the emotional honesty of its simple, archetypal love story. It is a perennial audience favorite -- the longest running musical in history. The original New York production ran for over 40 years.

But it is not the first show one would consider for director/choreographer John Command, who is more at home with a more over-the-top theatricality. And Bloomington Civic Theatre's current production suffers as a result.

This is a fairy tale of a boy and girl who fall in love over their fathers' supposed objections. (The men actually create obstacles in order to ensure their love, even setting up a supposed abduction of the girl by a bandit so the boy can save her.) When the young lovers discover the ruse, the relationship becomes much less appealing and they head off to explore the world, coming together in the end, much sadder and wiser.

Command's frequently frenetic direction does not serve this show well. The opening number, "Try to Remember," sets a wistful mood that is quickly lost amid all the antic hijinks. There is a much-needed delicacy missing in this production. Charm is overridden by shtick.

The fathers, Dean Kephart and Michael Fischetti, are even costumed like clowns, only adding to the excessive vaudeville atmosphere. In addition, a pair of traveling players, Tony Czech and Robbie McNamee, play so broadly that the action loses all plausibility.

In this environment, Suzie Juul and Erik Pearson, as the young lovers, are at a decided disadvantage. What is needed is sweet innocence and what they are saddled with is a kewpie doll preciousness that rapidly becomes off-putting. Without genuine feeling from the lovers, there is little to care about.

It is left to Carl Schoenborn, as the bandit, to carry the emotional weight of the production, and he does it quite admirably. He brings out the poetry in this simple tale and gives it its rare moments of genuine feeling and pathos.

William Randall Beard is a Minneapolis writer."

Honestly, what a pathetic review! I am nowhere near convinced that this man has ever seen the show before - the musical version of "Our Town", are you kidding me? Here is a publicity shot from an actual production of the show in New York.

Are you looking hard at this photo William Randall Beard? Do you see what the fathers are wearing? Our fathers' are dressed almost EXACTLY like this. I even saw this reference photo in the hands of our costumer one day - NOW are you going to state that the fathers were foolishly dressed?

Also, I'm supposed to play an indian AND a pirate - so I would HOPE to have acted "broadly" in your terminology - my character changes, genius!

ALSO, John Command did A Little Night Music earlier this year, and he did Follies a few years back which was so loved it got a GREAT review in the national magazine The Sondheim Review - so I think that disproves the theory that John can only do "shtick".

William's points are just SO invalid - and he didn't even mention the singing or the orchestra, probably because they're both wonderful aspects of the show and there's really nothing to be exaggeratingly pessimistic over in regards to them...

Of course, being someone on the inside of the show, I see our production in all its glory and want to defend all of the hard work and pain we have gone through as a cast. However, the proof is with all of the audience members. Every night the audience highly enjoys the show, we have even gotten emotion out of the deadest of audiences, and anyone we encounter in the lobby afterwards has only GREAT things to say about the show.

INCLUDING a writer from Lavender and City Pages - two other publications in the twin cities. After seeing our Friday performance this past weekend he told our director that this is one of the best shows he has seen. He stated that William Beard was completely wrong in his review, on all counts, and that he personally was going to write/call him and tell him that. Also, he said that he will try to get a review written up with the REAL story on this show.

So, the truth of the matter is that we have put on a very wonderful show - and we still have three more weekends to perform it! We do have some seating left, but we are close to sold out, if you want - please visit the theatre's website and order tickets - it will be a fantastic time for all!