"The Fantasticks" Play Review

"The Fantasticks" originally opened at the Sullivan Street Theatre in 1960 and ran up until 2002. At the Long Wharf Theatre, in New Haven, the play has been revived for the audiences enjoyment.

There are eight main characters. The play begins with two of the characters coming on stage in silence. They are the Macigian, El Gallo, and the Mute. El Gallo, while he is a character serves as the narrator. He tells a story of two young people in love, Matt and Luisa. Matt's and Luisa's fathers both secretly hate one another and put up a wall between the houses. The wall is designed to pull the attraction of something you can't have higher so that their children will marry. The fathers devise a plot to have young Luisa 'raided' or 'abducted.' The plan is to have Matt come to her rescue.

The play was well directed, well-lit, and well choreographed. What was lacking was the chemistry between the characters. For such a small cast, consisting of only eight people, there must be connection outside of the theatre to recreate the realistic feel needed. Two of the characters, Luisa and Matt, are in love. It is very apparent that they were acting during one of their scenes where they kiss. This relationship is the focus of the play, and I felt that they were the least capable.

The musical voices, on the other hand, were excellent. All the characters belted out their songs with great passion. Although I did not think that all the voices blended well, they were all very talented.

rating= 4.5/5 stars
for more local plays go to http://www.longwharf.org/