Try to Remember When Everything Was Fantastick

The Fantasticks – Skokie Theatre

17,162 performances running over 42 years off-Broadway at a Greenwich Village Playhouse. It played from 1960 to 2002 and is listed in the Guiness Book of World Records for longest uninterrupted running play at the same theatre. As if that wasn’t enough, it was revived off-Broadway from 2006-2017. There are also approximately 250 new high school and community productions put on each year since its premiere. Obviously, this play has staying power. There must be a reason. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 
This production, running from September 6 to October 6 at the legendary Skokie Theatre was a pleasure to observe. As anyone will assume (correctly), we have not been to a substantial amount of the thousands of performances enjoyed by so many over the decades. But still, we feel that this one should stand out for several reasons. 

First of all, the musicians were outstanding. We have heard many renditions of the overture and ” Try to Remember”, but this was by far the finest version of the pair that we ever heard. Hats off to Talar Khosdeghian on piano, Michael Maganuco on harp, Leo Finan on bass and Conductor Aaron Kaplan on cello. All were brilliant on each and every song. Becs Bartle was slick and awesome with the lighting design. Thhis play is another well produced effort from MadKap Productions. And let’s not forget Stephen M. Genovese, whose direction broght it all together. 

The cast was spot on with their timing, chemistry and tearfully beautiful voices. As critics writing reviews, we look for some kind of fault to expose and maybe improve upon. We could find no fault with this timeless tale of two teenagers in love, two fathers trying to draw them closer by saying no and having a fake feud and a wall that was built to bring everyone together. 

Perhaps we just witnessed the 100,000th performance of this play. But this production is as fresh as it might have been when it opened at the Sullivan Street Playhouse on May 3, 1960. Sorry…We have to say it- It was Fantastick!

Highly Recommended 

Reviewed by Shelly Berry Scott Kirshenbaum

Presented through October 6 at Skokie Theater at 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie.

Tickets are available at www.skokietheatre.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found at www.theatreinchicago.com.