The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review (now with PICTURES)

[Yankeefan007]

The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review (now with PICTURES)#0

Posted: 8/19/06 at 6:30pm

The full cast performed, as it was the first of the press performances.

My first experience with The Fantasticks occurred some years ago when I saw a production at Queens College (obviously in Queens, NY). I recall hating it so much that I blocked it from memory. I had never seen the original on Sullivan Street, which is why I went to see it at the Snapple Theater (it kills me to type that). I must say that this production of The Fantasticks is one of the best things I've seen in my years of theatergoing.

If you're a fan of big spectacle, this, like the Original, is not the show for you. They make great use of paper confetti, chairs to symbolize a tree, and even a man to play a wall. This works perfectly for the show, as it did way back when. The highlight of this production is the cast, featuring a break-out performance by Santino Fontana.

Santino Fontana is one of the strongest performers I've seen in recent memory. I rode the elevator up with him (and a few other people). When I pointed out to them that he was the star, they all remarked "wow, he's so young." His performance, his NYC debut, was remarkable. He's a great singer and actor, a true double threat.

Sara Jean Ford is still finding her footing. Her voice is beautiful her acting is perfectly cheesy, but she still seems very stiff. I'm sure she'll get better as time goes on.

Burke Moses, while no Jerry Orbach, is excellent. He has that perfect aura of romance and mystery with a great voice. Try To Remember never sounded better.

Leo Burmester and Martin Vidnovic steal the show as Hucklebee and Bellomy, the meddling fathers. They're a great team and have wonderful chemistry.

The same can be said for Robert R. Oliver and Thomas Bruce, who also steal the show as the Man Who Dies and Old Actor. It's like they've been working together for years. How Mr. Bruce (or Mr. Jones, whatever we wish to call him) can perform like a young guy at his advanced age is remarkable. Also remarkable is how he manages to climb up and down the 3 flights of stairs to reach and exit the theater.

Lastly is Douglas Ullman, Jr. as the Mute. What can you say about a guy who never talks? He makes a great wall.

I did notice many people snoring during the 2nd act (3 people in the front row and 1 gentleman sitting next to me....he actually snored).

My one example of discontent came in the surroundings. The theater, as we all know, has 7 rows and was made to look like the old Sullivan Street Playhouse. However, you can hear all the ambient noises going on around you, from stagehands backstage, to people upstairs stumbling around.

Stage Door: Everyone signed autographs except Ms. Ford, who was either sleeping or slipped out the front door. They're all extremely nice. Mr. Jones is a joy to talk to, beginning the conversation with "would you rather have Thomas Bruce or Tom Jones sign?"

Overall, it was an extremely enjoyable afternoon.

And just a word of advice. If you're sitting house left (the furthest from the entrance door), bring a jacket. That's the only place the air conditioner seems to work, and it's freezing.

Updated On: 8/21/06 at 06:30 PM

[JamesMacon]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#1

Posted: 8/19/06 at 6:35pm

Thank you for this review. I am so glad you liked it!

I really hope I can get the chance to see it.

[TomMonster]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#2

Posted: 8/19/06 at 6:46pm

Glad you liked it! I saw it last weekend and loved it. I spent 5 years on the show so it was a little bizarre seeing it again.

Oliver is the BEST! He did the role for close to 20 years, although never worked onstage with Tom before. They do work well together!

Santino is brilliant. Best boy I've ever seen in the role.

Too bad about the snoring people. I've surprised the cast didn't do something to wake them up...

"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx

[Yankeefan007]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#3

Posted: 8/19/06 at 8:45pm

Just an aside: does anyone know if the air conditioner problems have been consistent since it began?

[Johnnytoc]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#4

Posted: 8/19/06 at 8:52pm

I'm really hoping to see this soon; glad you enjoyed it!

[NativeNewYorker]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#5

Posted: 8/20/06 at 5:57pm

Glad you liked it! I hope they have a great opening night this week.

And I walked away absolutely loving Santino's performance. I never listened to "I Can See It" on the original recording, but I can't wait for the new CD to come out partly because of Santino's gorgeous, strong rendition of this song. His "There is this girl..." speech is wonderful.

"Stage Door: Everyone signed autographs except Ms. Ford, who was either sleeping or slipped out the front door. They're all extremely nice. Mr. Jones is a joy to talk to, beginning the conversation with "would you rather have Thomas Bruce or Tom Jones sign?" "

How cute is that :)

[Yankeefan007]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#6

Posted: 8/20/06 at 5:58pm

They record the album on Tuesday for a mid-September release. They're taking pre-orders at the concession stand.

[TomMonster]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#7

Posted: 8/20/06 at 5:59pm

Try to Remember the album in September...

"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx

[best12bars]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#8

Posted: 8/20/06 at 6:06pm

Hey, TomMonster---What did you do on Fantasticks for 5 years?

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

---

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

[TomMonster]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#9

Posted: 8/20/06 at 6:10pm

I'm trying to remember...

"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx

[best12bars]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#10

Posted: 8/20/06 at 6:11pm

Boy, I could have seen that one coming!

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

---

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

[iheartamc10]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#11

Posted: 8/20/06 at 8:35pm

I completely disagree. I went to the same matinee and I thought Burke Moses was awful and Sara Jean Ford was one of the stronger performers.

[aspiringactress]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#12

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:00pm

I found Burke to be a bit frightening and funny at the same time...he looked at me as he sang his first note and I had to stifle a giggle. Something about his presence doesn't work for me.

"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too." - Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck

[TomMonster]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#13

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:05pm

Yankeefan, it's so funny that you mentioned air conditioning. In the original production, in order to save money, the Producer, who also was playing one of the fathers, would only allow the air to be on during songs.

"Try to Rem..." WHOOOSH!!! "Soon It's Gonna..." WHOOOSH!!

"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx

[Yankeefan007]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#14

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:14pm

Haha. I remember thinking during the Winter scene yesterday 2 things:

1. I'm gonna steal that scarf from Vidnovic!

2. When El Gallo said something to the effect of "It's almost Winter and it'll get colder...." I muttered "no, it really can't get any colder."

[TomMonster]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#15

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:18pm

HaHa! Martin would have loved that! He would have taken the pruning shears and cut you...

I'll mention it to the Stage Manager and see if anyone else has complained. It's a new space and they have lots of kinks to work out.

I love that the ceiling is so low, the colored squares have no where to go but down.

Still, none of it ruined my enjoyment of the show.

"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx

[Yankeefan007]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#16

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:21pm

They all interacted with the audience so much that I was one step away from actually asking. Martin sat at the end of my row during 'Much More' and started talking to the woman sitting next to him, I'm assuming about how proud he was of his "daughter."

[TomMonster]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#17

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:25pm

Which daughter? The one in the show or his real famous one: Laura Benanti?

"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx

[Yankeefan007]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#18

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:27pm

I'm assuming Louisa, not Laura, considering that it was during Louisa's song.

[TomMonster]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#19

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:34pm

One never knows...I can imagine a theatre queen (like me) asking him if he sat next me. (I wouldn't really!)

"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx

[Yankeefan007]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#20

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:43pm

All the actors, Mr. Jones and Mr. Oliver especially, are having the times of their lives.

[BtMartin25]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#21

Posted: 8/20/06 at 10:54pm

any pictures?

bt

[NativeNewYorker]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#22

Posted: 8/21/06 at 5:19pm

:)

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=11662

[Yankeefan007]

re: The Fantasticks is Fantastic(k)! 8/19 Matinee Review#23

Posted: 8/21/06 at 5:58pm

And more here:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=11427