I SAW A PLAY, ONCE. . .

"The Fantasticks"
book & lyrics by Tom Jones
music by Harvey Schmidt
produced by and at Towle Community Theater
Hammond, IN
seen: Sept 14, 2007

The classic The Fantasticks ! Oh, so difficult to ruin, and, oh, so easy to enjoy! The Fantasticks always plays itself, doesn't it? Yes. Yes, it does.




The Protagonists, El Gallo and his troup of actors (two), who are introduced into the drama well after all the Antagonists are in place, are unable to resist accepting an offer proposed by two of the Antagonists--fathers both--to be the catalyst that unites their children--a boy and a girl--in marriage by coning the kids into believing that the son, single handedly, staves off a would be band of savages intent upon raping the daughter, thereby providing the newlyweds with an idealized image of themselves as Quenivier and Sir Lancelot just long enough to tie the knot, which is about all the time that the ruse lasts before the pair discover that their fathers conned them, which drives the honeymooners apart: he to wander the world for years as everyman's victim, and she as the love-slave of our Protagonist, El Gallo (God! Where do authors get these stories!), who, after some time (years?) comes to his senses and dumps the wench, taking with him the child bride's, favorite heirloom, her mother's rheinstone neckless, as payment for services rendered.

The prodigal son returns, much to his father's delight, is reunited with his childhood sweetheart, much to the delight of her father, and all four live happily every after.



Now: El Gallo is also the narrator of this production, and as such, is revealed to be the playwright, as well



Favorite Songs:

Try to Remember: how hauntingly beautiful.

Soon It's Gonna Rain: can never forget.

Never Say No : such fun.

They Were You: oh, yes.