USA: THE CURTAIN COMES DOWN ON THE WORLD'S LONGEST RUNNING MUSICAL - THE FANTASTICKS

Record ID: 392319

  • Title: USA: THE CURTAIN COMES DOWN ON THE WORLD'S LONGEST RUNNING MUSICAL - THE FANTASTICKS
  • Date: 11th January 2002
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA (11 JANUARY, 2001) ( REUTERS- ACCESS ALL) VARIOUS, OF SULLIVAN STREET THEATRE /FANTASTICKS BANNER SCU SIGN OUTSIDE BOX OFFICE SAYING REMAINING PERFORMANCES ARE ALL SOLD OUT SCU SIGN FOR SULLIVAN PLAYHOUSE SCU (SOUNBDITE) ( English) TONY NOTO, ASSISTANT PRODUCER SAYING:" This is the time to close the show This is the time to take a final bow. T
  • Embargoed: 26th January 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAAZ963J5JVKVU4V260762914K3
  • Story Text: After a record 17, 162 performances, the curtain has finally come down on the world's longest running musical, "The Fantasticks," which played at New York's Sullivan Street Theatre for nearly 42 years.
    After four decades and 17, 162 performances, the curtain has come down on the world's longest running musical, The Fantasticks.
    The show which opened on May 3, 1960 at the Sullivan Street Playhouse is a simple story, a playful variation of the Romeo and Juliet theme.
    The show's theme is the timeless story of a young boy and girl thrown together by scheming fathers, then torn apart by a yearning for an adventurous wider world only to find that life was better at home with the love next door.
    The play's simplicity is deceptive, as the show has several sophisticated interpretations.
    First, is the use of ancient theatrical techniques: the Narrator "Chorus" from early Greek drama, and the mute "Prop-Man" from Chinese theatre, Second, is the serious subtext beneath the comic surface, having to do with the seasonal celebrations upon which all theatre is based.
    And lastly, the score is melodic, at times sentimental.
    The show, which was adapted from Edmond Rostand's "Les Romanesques" was created by Tom Jones (who penned the book and lyrics) and composer Harvey Schmidt.
    Tony Noto, son of the Fantastick's original producer Lore Noto was sentimental over the closing of the show.
    "I've been involved with the production in different varieties for about twenty years. Is started out actually cleaning the theatre in my first job a mop and a spray cleaner, and wiping the windows and things like that and then I was in the box office, did the press for a number of years and over the last few years I have become more and more active in helping run the production. It's been an interesting way to grow up" Noto said.
    David Edwards, who plays a roving bandit called El Gallo, who is hired to abduct the girl and be defeated by the boy, says the success of the show is in its story telling.
    "It's theatre 101. It's very back to basics. It's almost a ritual type of play. It's very simple there's no big scenery .There are only two musicians. It's story telling in its purest form. Beautiful score, great integrity in the writing, and simplicity." Edwards told Reuters.
    Actor Bill Tost, who is the longest running actor in the show says,"I will miss coming down here. I think I'll probably start at a quarter of 7, because I have been doing it for 19 years, to get on my coat and come down and suddenly realize whoops, I don't have to do that anymore. But I am sadder for the city, I think we are losing something very valuable and a tradition."
    The Fantasticks has also been staged more than 11,103 times in more than 2,000 cities in every U.S. state, including productions at the White House, the Ford Theatre and even Yellowstone National Park. It has been exported to more than 67 countries, including such far-flung nations as Japan, Zimbabwe and pre-Taliban Afghanistan. A movie version of "The Fantasticks" was released in 2000.
    The show's hit song "Try To Remember" has become an enduring classic.
    --
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