The Fantasticks

The Fantasticks famously ran Off Broadway for over 40 years - thanks to a combination of a simple set (that cost $900), a tiny orchestra, a small cast and a breezy story line with one hit song ‘Try to remember’.

The Exclaim Theatre - comprising alumni of The Australian Institute of Music - shoe horned the production into the Pilgrim theatre. 

The stage was filled with oldish looking suitcases and the audience sat in the round, allowing the cast to perform in the centre of the theatre.

Overhead stretched bright coloured material lit by fairy lights and the suitcases opened up for illuminated replicas of objects such as moon.  

It was attractive and intimate, however the set could have done more to explain the central part of the plot - two neighboring fathers who trick their children into falling in love by pretending to feud. 

There was further ambiguity with the fathers played by women Hucklebee (Jess Jowett) and Bellomy (Daisy Cousens). This was due to the necessity of catering for the talented women in the ensemble and is not uncommon.

Director Jonathan Holmes gave the production a dark and brooding feel. The grim character called The Mute (Sean Curran) had his lips sewn together.

This device accentuated the drama of the final scene.

Musically it was sparse (as was the original) but it opened with a beautiful a Capella.

Charismatic as the swashbuckling narrator was Richard Woodhouse as El Gallo.

The young lovers Luisa (Meg Bate) and Matt (Alexander Morgan) looked the part.

The best role in the show is the Old Man and Doron Chester milked many opportunities for laughs.

There were a few creases in the first act but the speedy resolution in the second left the audience well satisfied.

David Spicer