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The Fantasticks
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Director
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Scott Conley
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Assistant Director
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LIndsay Mitchell
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Music Director/Keyboard
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Steve Taranto
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Choreographer
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Renee Brooks
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Costumes
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Becky Fly, Steve Taranto
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Props
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Roxane Rhoads, Toni Kuhn, Scott Conley
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Lights/Sound
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Terry Bivens
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Scenic Design/Construction
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Billy Worboys, Blake Staples
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| Set Dressing |
Roxanne Rhoads, Toni Kuhn |
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Backstage Crew
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Quincy Rhoads, Carl Seely
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CAST:
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El Gallo
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The Narrator |
Ben Wilkenson
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Luisa
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The Girl |
Mary Elizabeth Larson
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Matt
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The Boy |
Blake Staples
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| Hucklebee |
The Boy's Father |
Billy Worboys
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| Bellomy |
The Girl's Father |
Martin Meyer
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| Henry |
The Actor |
Richard Gaugh/Scott Conley |
| Mortimer |
The Man Who Dies |
Tommy Rhoads |
| The Mute |
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Renee Brooks |
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Newcomers shine in 'Fantasticks'
(As seen in the Weedend Plus section of The Jackson Sun - 10/9/03)
By PETER WATSON
pwatson@jacksonsun.com
The Jackson Theater Guild's recent production of 'The Fantasticks' was a triumph.
The play, which tells the story of a boy, a girl, two fathers and a wall, reminded me of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' - with a twist. Imagine if the two fathers actually wanted the young lovers to wed, and if the 'feud' was a farce created to bring them together.
This show, as with all JTG productions, was well acted, well sung and well choreographed. What made this show intriguing was that in addition to Guild veterans, including Billy Worboys, Scott Conley and Martin Meyer, the cast included a slew of newcomers. Standout performances were especially given by newcomers Blake Staples, who played 'the boy,' Matt, and Mary Elizabeth Larson, who played his love interest, Luisa. Both Staples and Larson gave endearing, funny performances as a young couple who yearn for adventure, yet learn that the adventurous life isn't all it's cracked up to be. Their on-stage chemistry was apparent.
Hilarious performances also were given by Worboys and Meyer, playing the two fathers who built a wall and created a feud to bring their children together. Conley and Tommy Rhoads almost stole the show as Henry and Mortimer, two addled and aging Shakespearean actors hired to help end the feud. Ben Wilkerson gave a strong performance as 'El Gallo,' who both served as the show's narrator and acted as the catalyst to keep the action moving. His singing was especially lovely.
A review of this show would be incomplete without giving special mention to this show's choreography. Choreographed by Renee Brooks, the dancing ranged from funny to graceful, from vaudevillian to beautiful.
What I like best about this show is that it's markedly different from anything the Guild has done before. This show wasn't loud and splashy like the Guild's last production, 'Hello, Dolly!' This show didn't have the vibrant costumes or the sing-along songs. 'The Fantasticks' was more intellectual and subdued. It offered a slice of life everyone could identify with (first loves) and a moral lesson we all could learn from. (The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence.)
With 'The Fantasticks,' JTG continues its string of first-rate shows. The Guild remains one of the best values for your entertainment dollar in town.
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