Stunning Vocals, Surreal Scenery, Bring Wonder and Humor to The Wick’s Vibrant Fresh Take on ‘THE FANTASTICKS’!

At Wednesday’s matinee, Kimberly Wick’s (production supervisor/costumes/properties manager) upbeat words of welcome to The Wick Theatre & Museum Club’s 12th Season confirmed their highly successful formula of providing audiences with the best “Oldies but Goodies.” What better show to personify this mission than staging the world’s longest running musical! THE FANTASTICKS is an off-Broadway legend that ran for 42 successive years at the same theatre, since 1960, was awarded the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre in 1991, then took off across the country (boasting some 250 new productions yearly), including a 2006-2017 off-Broadway revival. Based loosely on the 1894 play “Les Romanesques” by Edmond Rostand, the musical boasts a Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones and Music by Harvey Schmidt.

“The Fantasticks” remains a popular, regional-theater favorite because there’s simply nothing else quite like it. Exhibiting gorgeous and surprising visuals, and a playful vibe that holds deep, “everyman” emotions and lessons, the show also evokes some of our oldest theatrical traditions. It includes references to classic fables, swooning love poetry, sword play to rescue damsels in distress, Shakespearean burlesque, night magic, mirage, French pantomime and commedia dell’arte. Sounds like a lot? Not to worry. Everything comes smoothly together (at times in stunning new ways) that makes this story exciting and timely for every generation. And heck! No matter the decade, human nature is still human nature (it’s why Shakespeare will live forever). 

We peek in on intimate scenes of a naive young man of 20 and a girl of 16 who are both looking for love and adventure (not necessarily together) but become pawns in the hands of their scheming fathers (because, you know, “Father knows best”). Their dads – widower neighbors and longtime friends – decide to outwit the innate obstinacy of youth by pretending to be lifelong enemies, and even erect a wall between their two properties – knowing full well that nothing excites the young like forbidden love. They feel creating fictitious obstacles holds the key to pushing their progeny to marry so they can merge into one happy family. 

Their spot-on philosophy about how kids respond to parental requests remains one of the funniest musical numbers ever. You won’t soon forget high-spirited “Never Say ‘No’” sung by the talented dad duo of popular, deep-voiced Troy J. Stanley as Huckabee and smooth vocalist Alan Goodman as Bellomy.  

Everyone involved ultimately learns some lessons. About honesty, neighborliness, trusting the wrong people, and thinking the grass is always greener on the other side. As for love – the road to a true and lasting relationship is rarely straight and easy. Or as the musical’s fantastic (double entendre accepted), award-winning director Bruce Linser cites as his favorite poetic line from the musical in his Director’s Note: “Who understands why Spring is born out of Winter’s laboring pain? Or why we all must die a bit before we grow again?”

Linser is celebrated for his originality, craft, and attention to detail. By putting his spin on the well-tread road of this popular icon, he’s managed to make it appear fresh and new for both a new and old audience. Starting with something as simple as opening the show with a thrill-ride experience of zooming through a majestic green forest to land amidst birdsong in an idyllic clearing that harbors twin homes, gardens, and an authentic 1950 Dodge pickup truck. For our exhilarating entry, and all ensuing magical moments, we can thank projection designers Josieu Jean and Kacey Koploff, accompanied by lighting design by Clifford M. Spulock, and sound design by Justin Thompson.

As if this scenery weren’t enough to bring us to attention, we’re immediately greeted by the one-of-kind powerful voice and vocals of our Narrator cum El Gallo, Jesse Luttrell, who I could listen to with pleasure forever. The critics call his singing “dazzling” and say he’s blessed with “a big velvety voice,” one his voice teacher considers a rare Heldentenor – a tenor who sounds like a baritone. In addition to musical theater, Luttrell’s a popular international star of nightclubs and cabarets, which might explain his easy sex appeal. And why he was the ideal casting choice to play a devilish rogue who dominates every scene he’s in … and there are many. Starting with when our lean, lead singer/narrator, dressed all in black, ties his signature red scarf around his neck and belts out bittersweet “Try to Remember” (the show’s signature song in a version you’ll never forget).

As a well-traveled man of the world, El Gallo attracts our innocent 16-year-old heroine, Luisa, after the “damsel-in-distress” is forsaken by her “savior” next door who crashes upon discovering he never truly measured up and runs off to seek his fortune in the wider world. Luisa may be naive, flighty, dreamy and vain, but she can’t help being a lovely picture of young maidenhood and her voice – my god! Her clear, pure Soprano vocals remind me of nothing less than a young Julie Andrews, my all-time childhood favorite. Brooke DeBeer was another stupendous casting find; I sincerely hope she can ignore the financial lure of her UCF grad marketing degree to set Broadway stages on fire. 

To their credit, the rest of the cast are also superb actors (and called upon often – not only for perfect pitch but also for perfect comedic timing). They include Luisa’s boy next door, a university graduate who considers himself the more experienced. (Echoes of “The Sound of Music”’s  “I am 17 going on 18, I’ll take care of you.”) Gianni Saverio owns the role of Matt who he plays with all the misconceived bluster of youth and, at least at first, the fawn-eyed surrender of one hopelessly in love. And always hovering somewhere in the background whilst providing whimsical, graceful, mime-like commentary, is French beret-capped Matthew Paszkiet as The Mute. 

We’re, at least I, was left to wonder if things would have been easier for Matt had his father not pushed for a “rape of the Sabine women”-style abduction that put him in the spotlight as Luisa’s noble savior, attacking a bevy (actually only three, but the way he later tells it there were scores of scoundrels) and through his talent as a swordsman, smites them all to save his “princess.”  I kept thinking: Sword fights and fencing … really? What would the bookish son of a passionate gardener know about that?

But at least in our case, it was worth enacting this ludicrous plot to be entertained by a traveling “Shakespearean” mini-troupe of fools and their over-the-top skits. The self-styled leader and “teacher” of this two-man company – a long-in-the-tooth, memory-challenged actor whose Elizabethan outfit was literally coming apart at the seams, was played to comedic perfection by Kevin Reilley as Henry. His sole student/follower, a “death scene” specialist who vividly and repeatedly illustrates his special talent at dramatically extending the last throes of life – all while clothed in impressive doublet attire – was delightfully portrayed by outrageous cutup Darryl J. Willis as Mortimer. (Props to Kimberly Wick for her costume design expertise, both here and throughout the show.) 

And we get to see more of these earnest misfits when El Gallo is recruited by the dads to stage Luisa’s “abduction,” thus ensuring a “rescue” by her hero, Matt. The recruited actors take quite a few falls in the service of this clincher for getting the young people to tie the knot and provide an excuse for their fathers to bury the hatchet. A couple of memorable songs accompany this plot. Notably, El Gallo’s description of variable abduction scenarios (as if this were a typical service transaction) in “It Depends on What You Pay” featuring El Gallo, Bellomy & Huckleberry. Apparently, they paid enough, their crazy strategy worked, and we witness an idyllic moonlit lovers’ encounter starring Matt & Luisa in “Soon It’s Gonna Rain.” Followed by “The Abduction Ballet,” starring the full Company, and culminating in Matt, Luisa, Huckleberry & Bellomy celebrating a “Happy Ending.” 

If this were a typical fairy tale, it would end here, but we’ve only arrived at the end of Act 1 and intermission. And time to reflect on the significant contribution of fight choreographer Ted deChatelet in this last scene and many more to come. And there simply wouldn’t be a show without the excellent choreography of Ralph Meitzler and music direction by the great Bobby Peaco. Time to mention one of my all-time favorite aspects that, for once, sits in the background but is still visible – the LIVE two-person band! Bobby Peaco also serves as onstage pianist, playing nonstop on a suitably disguised, old-style wooden piano. He’s accompanied by the Elizabethan-evoking, lilting tones of an elegant, full-size harp, beautifully played by harpist Kay Kemper.

If Act 1 is all fun, whimsy and laughter, Act 2 brings us down to earth with a thud because, well, every show, as in life, requires some challenges for its protagonists to face, deal with, and hopefully resolve. We witness troubles in Paradise that may start small but quickly build to graphic pain and despair. Opening number, “The Plum in Too Ripe,” portrays Matt, Luisa, and their dads finding fault in the fruit produced by their differing gardening methods. Yet Huckleberry & Bellomy can still agree on how aggravating it is to raise children where the outcome is never guaranteed versus always predictable crops as in “Plant a Radish” … get a radish!

Matt comes to suffer incredible cruelty in his travels. But fear not, you’ll leave the theater with a smile when love and familial harmony is restored in a magical, snow dappled night. Highlighted by El Gallo’s (Jesse Luttrell) one-of-a-kind resounding rendition of “Try to Remember (Reprise).”

Try to remember to get your tickets soon to this most memorable and delightful show! THE FANTASTICKS is playing now through November 2 at The Wick Theatre, 7901 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton 33487. For tickets to this fantastic season opener and their impressive upcoming season, along with one-night specials, head to TheWick.org or call 561-995-2333.