Timeless wit at Soulpepper

Blair Mlotek
Contributor
The Fantasticks is reminiscent of a classic tale of forbidden love with an unforgettable twist. As the playbill explained, playwrights Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt borrowed “frankly and shamelessly” from other works. The obvious connection to Romeo and Juliet comes right at the start of the play, as the audience is presented with two lovers who cannot be together due to a family feud. The twist comes when it is revealed that the feud is an elaborate ruse set up between the fathers to get their children to fall in love and marry.
One would expect something great and timeless from the longest running musical in history, but what they also get is a lot of laughter. The Fantasticks may be rooted in tragedies of the past, but it is also a comedy that keeps the audience in hysterics. Borrowing again from Shakespeare, a character known as the Mute fills in to play the part of a wall, a concept taken directly from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Trills of laughter resonated around the audience as the Mute used obvious props to take part in the unfolding story.
The fourth wall is broken at the start of the play as the audience is directly addressed, and this set-up is maintained throughout the performance. This simple act, the actors speaking directly to the audience about the play and its props, adds to the story’s simple charm.
The Fantasticks recalls a simple time, when the world existed only in the backyards of two neighbors. The audience may appreciate the reminiscence of this idealized era. There is also a great deal of comedy brought out through watching two children grow, fighting with their parents and trying to get something out of life.
Continuing to break with the traditional story of forbidden love, The Fantasticks refuses to satisfy its audience with a “happily ever after.” Right after Louisa and Matt, the story’s lovers, receive permission from their parents to marry, they no longer want it. The audience is told directly that the story is not yet done. Nothing is ever as simple as it seems in fiction, and here the audience gets to witness this firsthand.
The Fantasticks is a simple, honest comedy that makes its audience think about, remember and appreciate life. I went into the theatre expecting great things, but it surprised me nonetheless.