The Fantasticks

[StarL925]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 9:54pm

My college is putting on "The Fantasticks" next month. I don't anything about it, and I'm definitely going to go. But doesnt anyone know about the show? Or have any input? Thanks!

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:02pm

What do you want to know?

I am a HUGE Fantasticks fan!

[StarL925]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:27pm

Can you give me a brief overview of the show? And maybe your favorites songs or parts? That would be awesome!

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:41pm

Sure!

There are these two older men who appear to have this bitter feud. One has a son (Matt) and the other a daughter (Luisa). The fathers build a wall between their gardens and forbid their children to have anything to do with each other. Of course, this makes them attracted to each other and they meet at night in between their gardens.

However, the fathers are really good friends and plotted this because they knew the forbidden love factor would be appealing to their children.

The fathers realize that they need to find a way to end their pretend feud so the kids can get married, so they stage an abduction, enlisting El Gallo (played by Jerry Orbach in the original cast). El Gallo attemps to abduct Luisa, Matt saves her, and the fathers are all, "The feud's over!" And the kids are all, "Yay, we can be together now!"

But...of course, now they get bored of each other because they are no longer forbidden fruit.

Luisa runs off with El Gallo.

Matt goes off on his own.

The fathers argue.

And, of course, The Boy and The Girl find their ways back to each other. (Kinda like The Wizard of Oz...they realize they don't have to go looking outside their own backyard to find happiness:))

I completely adore this show...it's one of my all-time favorites and has a very special place in my heart. The stage is VERY VERY simple...everything needed for the show comes from a box...the wall is played by a mute...very, very simple but I think that is what makes it so special.

"Try to Remember" is the most famous song from this show...my personal favorite is "Soon It's Gonna Rain"...makes you melt, really..."They Were You" and "Metaphor" are wonderful, too. (All three are duets of Luisa and Matt.)

It was also the longest-running American musical...played at the Sullivan Street Playhouse (down the block from my grammar school, so I would see the banner every day :)) for 42 years!

I could go on forever...it's such a special show...love it! I hope you like it!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:42pm

NNY,
Down girl! Calm.

[StarL925]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 11:18pm

It sounds absolutely awesome! Thank you for all the info! I'll let you know how I like it! I'm sure I'll LOVE it! :

[B.B. Wolf]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 11:21pm

I think it was Brecht who said "The greater the work, the greater the possibility for disaster."
The Fantasticks is performed constantly all over the US and I've seen a LOT of productions that simply suck. Then again, there IS a reason why it's my favorite musical: I've have seen some that are simply transcendant. Magical, beautiful, poetic, simple, and human. Everything drama should be.

[Jon]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 12:10am

The easiest way to ruin THE FANTASTICKS is to have a director who thinks he's smarter than the authors, and tries to "improve" it with some new "concept". The show's charm is it's simplicity. The authors provide a detailed Production Guide with drawings of the original set, costumes, staging suggestions, etc. Of course, you are not required to follow it exactly, but my experience has been that the farther you stray from the original,the greater chance of ruining this show.

[B.B. Wolf]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 12:16am

Very VERY true, Jon.
The Fantasticks with a dance corp. You doubt? I've seen it. Ugh.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 5:58pm

This is a simple show and was written to be performed that way. I've seen people try to dress it up and ruin it.

It is a favorite of mine and is very enjoyable for an audience. There are some very sweet songs and some funny bits thrown in and the whole thing is entertaining if the show is done right.

It's also easy to do from the standpoint of musicians, as you don't need much...we did it with just a piano though I have seen it done with a trio or a quartet...it's just a fun show. Enjoy

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 6:02pm

Wolf,
a dance corp?!? HOW?!? WHY?!?