Reverend’s Reviews: A Fantastick Night in LA

The Fantasticks — the off-Broadway phenomenon by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt that made its debut way back in 1960 and became the world’s longest-running musical — is an odd and somewhat dated show. However, Los Angeles' Reprise Theatre Company, director Jason Alexander and a great cast of gay favorites have done probably the best job possible in making it relevant and enjoyable for modern audiences with a too short-lived revival that unfortunately closes today.

Headlined by Will Truman himself, Eric McCormack, and boasting co-stars Lucas Grabeel (the High School Musical series as well as Milk) and out actor Barry Dennen (Jesus Christ Superstar’s original Pontius Pilate, interviewed here on Easter), this production of The Fantasticks is splendidly sung and acted. McCormack and Grabeel make especially strong vocal impressions as, respectively, the show’s sinister narrator, El Gallo, and its innocent young-man-in-love-with-the-girl-next-door (Alison Woods). McCormack also sports tight leather pants the whole time!

Alexander stages the action on a simple round, raked platform surrounded by gauzy white draperies. The draperies double as scrims, on which are occasionally projected season-appropriate images of autumn leaves, spring flowers and winter snowflakes. Driscoll Otto’s lighting design also utilizes splashes of color and sunlight befitting the characters’ locations and/or moods.


With Jones’ approval, Alexander and company have made at least one significant change to the text: one of the two conniving fathers has become a mother. The change won’t even be noticed by someone unfamiliar with the original version, and Eileen T’Kaye pulled it off perfectly. Stage and screen vet Harry Groener paired well with her as Luisa’s father, Bellomy.

I had the privilege of meeting Eric McCormack after the performance I attended. He’s a very nice, easy-going guy, and is currently filming the period comedy My One and Only with Kevin Bacon and Renée Zellweger. McCormack previously starred in The Music Man on Broadway and has great song-n-dance chops. If not The Fantasticks, hopefully we’ll get a chance to hear him in another musical in the not too distant future.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

MD Poll: From Screen to Stage, Class of 2008-2009

With the close of the 2008-2009 Broadway season, it is time to take a look back at the four musicals and one play that braved the transition From Screen to Stage and pick your favorite.

Did 9 to 5 punch your clock? Were you left dreaming of a White Christmas? Did Billy Elliot leave you cheering, or was Shrek more your cup of (green) tea? Or perhaps To Be or Not To Be answered all your questions (yeah, I know, probably not).

Vote for your favorite in the MD Poll located in the right hand sidebar, and check back in three weeks (on June 6, the eve of the Tony Awards) for the results!

UPDATE: This poll is now closed; click here for the results, and click here to vote in the next MD Poll.

MD Poll: Ford Tough

It was quite a fight to the finish, but in the end it was James Ford — better known as Sawyer — who was named your favorite Lost character in the most recent MD Poll. It was a tight race between the sexy Southerner (played by Josh Holloway) and Jack Shephard, Ben Linus and John Locke, who all placed strong and in that order. For the full rundown, see the comments section below.

And speaking of Lost: how about that season finale the other night? Can't believe that we have to wait until at least January to find out what happened to everybody after the "big bang" ... or that we're roughly a year away from knowing what it all means. Something tells me though that it will all be worth the wait.

Disney World Goes Up

The cast of Disney/Pixar's Up made their debut at Disney's Hollywood Studios this week in preparation for the animated film's debut later this month. You've got to love the detail on these costumes, from Russell's Wilderness Explorer badges to Carl Fredricksen's wedding ring, down to the tennis balls on his walker.

And Dug the talking dog already looks to be the breakout star of Up, which lands in theaters May 29.