Theater Reviews : ‘The Fantasticks’: Whimsy-Deficient

There’s a reason Tom Jones’ Harvey Schmidt’s “The Fantasticks” is the longest-running musical in theater history. In spite of its coloring-book simplicity and its mostly forgettable score, it has an overabundance of that fugitive ingredient--whimsy.

And it’s the lack of whimsy that has knocked the life out of the production at the Cabrillo Playhouse. Under John Ross Clark’s direction, everyone is trying so hard to be cute that the strain is sometimes painful.

This is a show that needs magic, and Clark’s wand is passing over an empty silk hat. Only Rashad Chichakly’s musical direction and piano accompaniment manages at moments to have the zephyr-light ease the piece calls for.

Clark also has made a tactical error in casting Jenny McClelland as Hucklebee. Making young Matt’s parent his mother instead of his father may be in line with today’s proclivity for what is known as blind casting, but one cannot be blind to how out of key it is for young Luisa’s father, Bellomy, to bicker and snarl with McClelland’s disagreeable shrike of a mother. It throws the show off balance, as does McClelland’s general air of petulance.

There is a reason both characters were written as fathers. This rewrite is unreasonable.

Jay Proskovec’s Matt and Sarah Meals (Reed)’s Luisa both sound fine, his robust tenor and her smooth soprano handling their vocal chores efficiently. But both suffer from trying to play too young; after all, Matt is 20, Luisa 16, and these actors are definitely not the talented tots they try to simulate.

Although he has a rich baritone that fits the role, Bil Barratt is a less than heroic El Gallo, the dashing bounder who helps bring Matt and Luisa together and then teaches them both what life is really like. When he’s not singing, Barratt seems like a weary headwaiter listing tonight’s specials.

Michael O’Meara is the most successful in the company as Luisa’s plotting father, Bellomy. He’s closely followed by Bill Carden’s often funny Henry, who, although he gives scant impression of being an ancient Shakespearean trouper, has some funny moments.

The performance by Raymond Kant as Henry’s cockney sidekick, Mortimer, is mostly silly and pointless shtick, and young Melissa Schuman is cute but has little to do as the Mute, a role usually more profitably played by an inventive mime.

Dan Touris’ set and lighting design is minimal, though Clark should not block his actors behind one of Touris’ poles and out of his simple lighting. There is no credit for costumes, but someone should have told McClelland not to wear those unfortunate knee-length stockings.

* “The Fantasticks,” Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m.; matinees Sunday and June 4, 2 p.m. $10. (714) 492-0465. Running time: 2 hours. Sarah Meals (Reed): Luisa

Jay Proskovec: Matt

Bil Barratt: El Gallo

Michael O’Meara: Bellomy

Jenny McClelland: Hucklebee

Bill Carden: Henry

Raymond Kant: Mortimer

Melissa Schuman: The Mute

A San Clemente Community Theatre production of the Tom Jones-Harvey Schmidt musical fable. Directed by John Ross Clark. Musical direction: Rashad Chichakly. Scenic/lighting design: Dan Touris. Stage manager: Debra Proskovec.