CDS brings ‘The Fantasticks’ to Cayman
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from June 2001.
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"The Fantasticks" is the world's longest running musical and the longest running show in American theatre history. It opened in May 1960, and 41 years later is still playing at the Sullivan Street Theatre of New York's Broadway.
The musical has not only entranced Americans for a couple of generations. At any given moment there are a number of productions.
taking place some in English, some in translation. It has been produced in Beijing, Moscow and Bangkok. Soon it will be produced in Cayman.
Currently the Cayman Drama Society is in rehearsal with a sterling cast.
The cast includes Neil Rooney and Kevin Redfern, seen in "Forever Plaid" and "Side by Side by Sondheim", stalwarts
Tony Rowlands and Peter Riley, Sarah Ellison, Peter Kosa, Sue Horrocks and Sharon Saunders.
The show is produced by Lisa Stasiuk and is directed by Mary Anne Kosa. It is sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada, Global Private Banking.
The CDS production will run for two weeks only. It opens at the Prospect Playhouse on Thursday, 7 June. It runs
then to Sunday 10 June, and then from Wednesday, 13 June, until Sunday 17 June.
According to CDS, The Fantasticks is the tale of Matt and Louisa who are tricked into falling in love by their fathers who pretend to feud. A swashbuckler is hired to stage a phoney adventure in which Matt "saves" the girl, a ploy designed to reinforce their love and give the fathers a
pretence to break off their "feud" and resulting in a happy ending. However, the plot turns sour, shattering the young people's illusions and inciting a genuine feud between the fathers. After a separation and a series of painful personal defeats, the lovers learn the realities of life. Their romance is rekindled, and they gain a deeper view of life and love.
Probably the best known song from the show is "Try to remember" which was a big popular hit. Other well-known songs from the show are "Soon its going to rain", "They were you" and "Never say no".
As can be imagined, a number of young and upcoming stars had the good fortune to have the show as one of the rungs to their success. They include Elisa Minelli, Elliot Gould and Jerry Orbach (of TV's "Law and
Order").
In a memorable television production Stanley Holloway ("My Fair Lady") and Bert Lahr (the Lion in "The Wizard of Oz") played the two fathers.
Tickets for the Cayman Drama Society show are adults $15, children $10. Dinner theatre is on Friday and Saturday nights with tickets at $35. Call 949-5054 to book a seat.
Tony Rowlands
Peter Riley
