Few chestnuts have weathered the seasons better than The Fantasticks, a musical fable about life and young love. Even now, 40 years after its debut, it continues to charm with its tuneful balance of innocence and wisdom. Perhaps it's fitting that The Fantasticks arrives in Milwaukee not long after its final Manhattan performance (the longest-running play there ended its 40-year run on January 13, 2002). With its signature song, "Try to Remember," The Fantasticks reminds us how our own follies have shaped us into the adults we have become. This small-scale show, with it minimal sets, props and costume changes, is especially well suited to the Boulevard's intimate space. The Boulevard has 40 seats wedged into a minuscule black box.
This can be quite a challenge for everyone involved. Director Bryce Lord deserves credit for his wonderful use of the limited space. Every motion is expertly choreographed. Even during the hilarious "rape" sequence, which features impressive swordplay and a fake kidnapping, the audience, barely inches away from the action, need not fear that the actors will end up in their laps.
production works so well due to the real chemistry between the young lovers, Lousia and Matt. Amanda Garry, as Louisa, has a lovely voice and a winsome smile, and we are immediately drawn to her childlike innocence. Adam Voigts is equally attractive as the tall, dark and handsome Matt. He convincingly plays a character who's slightly older than Louisa, but who is not immune to her charms. In short, they are adorable together. This makes their well-known duet, "Soon It's Gonna Rain," into one of the show's highlights.
In an interesting switch, the young folks' parents, usually played by two fathers, now consists of a father and a mother. The dialogue hasn't changed -- Matt's mother still talks about her Navy career -- but the lines are a bit funnier when delivered by a woman. Matt's mother (Michelle Waide) is perfectly dressed and coifed as a 1950s housewife, which adds a bit of retro chic to the production. Louisa, too, looks as if she's dressed for Sunday brunch, circa 1950. The only thing she's missing is white gloves and a pillbox hat. She wears a pretty, full-skirted apricot dress, which highlights her attractive figure without being too alluring. The production is generally well cast, with the possible exception of Luke Jankowski as El Gallo. This is a central character who must control all the action onstage, either directly (onstage) or indirectly (from a slight distance away).
Jankowski is fairly young for the role, and it is difficult to believe in his "worldliness." Some of his movements are tentative as well, though perhaps some of this can be attributed to opening-night jitters. His voice also needs to be stronger to carry the show's signature tune, "Try to Remember." While one doesn't expect to see another Jerry Orbach at the Boulevard, it still is a critical part that perhaps needs a more seasoned performer. Speaking of jitters, one hope that David Jink can settle down a bit during the show's run. He plays Louisa's father. For someone who plays a farmer, Jink was a bit hyper on opening night. However, he's a clever mimic who carefully weeds and waters his garden, commenting, "When you plant a radish, you know what you get."
His duet with Matt's mother, "Never Say No," makes excellent use of the male/female combination, with Jink and Waide dancing across the stage. It's an unexpectedly charming moment. Rick Richter as Henry and Bob Goderich as Mortimer, a pair of actors hired to portray villains during the "rape," provide the necessary comic relief. Nancy Weiss-Mcquide impresses as the mute. Her expressiveness adds an extra layer of drama to the show. She must also perform a number of duties, the most important of which is impersonating the wall between the neighbors' gardens. Musical director Donna Kummer is a virtuoso who can make an audience forget that the music emanate from one person, not an entire orchestra.
On a final note, one must mention that the Boulevard's intimate setting doesn't often feature an appropriately sized cast (the eight performers in The Fantasticks is just about perfect). The other show currently playing in repertory with The Fantasticks is Our Town -- with cast of 15!
