The Fantasticks

"The Fantasticks" isn't the best musical I've seen at Theatre 3, but the venerable show is a great example of what Theatre 3 does best: an entertaining musical that fits well in their intimate space and is told with flair, finesse and fun.

"The Fantasticks" features music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones that includes the show's most well-known song "Try to Remember." The original show opened off-Broadway in 1960 and ran for 42 years earning the title of the world's longest running stage musical. The sweet tunes and universal themes of love found, lost and found again maintain the show's popularity.

"The Fantasticks" revolves around young neighbors Matt and Luisa whose fathers have erected a wall to keep the pair apart. But the father's feud is a ruse. The fathers have been pretending to fight to make sure Matt and Luisa do fall in love.

To ensure their plans, the fathers hire a few actors to abduct Luisa, setting up Matt to rescue her thus steering the two into each other's arms. But to the fathers' surprise, Matt and Luisa were already in love and when the pair realize what their fathers have done they become disillusioned and break up.

"The Fantasticks" uses a highly stylized storytelling technique that includes a Narrator and a Mute Actor and features a stagey set and minimal props.

For the Theatre 3 production, Director Bruce Coleman reunites Natalie Coca and Dennis Wees as the young lovers (the pair played the young lovers in Coleman's "Hot Mikado" earlier this year.) Both actors are delightful, have great voices and have bright careers ahead of them.

David Lugo is both dashing and mysterious as the Narrator who establishes the story and weaves all of its threads together.

The highlight of "The Fantasticks" is the complex abduction scene whimsically choreographed by Haulston Mann. The fight scene is funny and fantastical and features the entire game cast.

But it's Terry Vandivort who steals the show as Henry, a fumbly old actor who is one of Luisa's abductors. Vandivort is a scream and his superb slapstick shenanigans are some of the sharpest you've seen on a stage. You'll remember "The Fantasticks" with warm fuzzy feelings, but it's Vandivort you'll never forget.

While my right brain was enjoying "The Fantasticks," my left brain was drawn to some pretty amazing stats. This is Theatre 3's 54th season and their ninth production of "The Fantasticks." Director Bruce Coleman has been associated with the company for over 30 years. Actor Terry Vandivort made his first Theatre 3 appearance 45 years ago. And "The Fantasticks" ran off-Broadway for an astonishing 42 years straight. It's no wonder that all the elements in Theatre 3's "The Fantasticks" add up to first-rate entertainment.

"The Fantasticks" runs through Dec. 27 at Theatre3, 2800 Routh Street in Dallas. For information or tickets, call 214-871-3300 or visit www.theatre3dallas.com