WIESBADEN, Germany - It's the usual story -- with a twist.
Boy and girl neighbors fall in love. Their parents connive to bring them together with disastrous results. Exhilarating events ensue.
Theater-goers enjoyed a smashing opening weekend of the ever-popular musical, "The Fantasticks," at Wiesbaden's Amelia Earhart Playhouse Feb. 26-28. The show continues with performances at 7:30 p.m. March 4, 5, 11 and 12; and at 2 p.m. March 6 and 12.
"It's a feast for the senses," said the play's director, Brian Buckley, a longtime Playhouse volunteer and a counselor with the Adolescent Substance Abuse Counseling Service at Wiesbaden High School.
Buckley, who has performed and directed at the Amelia Earhart theater since 2009 and has won several prestigious Tournament of Plays and One-Act Showcase awards, described "The Fantasticks" as a "beautiful musical. It's a simple story about innocence and loss of innocence."
The musical by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones -- the world's longest-running musical -- also has special significance for the Wiesbaden director. "It was my professional debut in 1980 -- my first paying job -- in a performance in New York City," Buckley said.
"I love the symbolism of the show," he said. Based loosely on the 18th century play "The Romancers" by Edmond Rostand, "it's like reverse psychology (with Luise's mother and Matt's father trying to bring them together)," he explained, adding, "the plot has all of this fantasy" which is reflected in "the colors and the lighting -- the special effects."
Audiences are also in for a treat with a live orchestra, directed by Julia Cramer, featured on stage along with the actors and actresses throughout the performance.
"It's a beautiful blend," said Amelia Earhart Playhouse director, Kim Carr, about the mixture of emotional dialogue, melodic songs and skillful staging. "It's that type of show that allows you to be creative -- a play within a play."
Audiences may find themselves singing along with well-known songs such as "Try to Remember" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain."
"We've really grown the theater in the past few years," Carr said, explaining that there are now more than 80 regular active participants. "We have so many great volunteer participants."
"We have military, civilians, Germans, high school students, DoDDS teachers -- a nice gamut of different types of people" who volunteer to help produce outstanding productions, Buckley said -- and newcomers are always welcome both onstage and behind the scenes.
Carr added that the Playhouse will be holding auditions for their upcoming production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" sometime this month (times and dates to be announced soon).
Tickets for "The Fantasticks" cost $17. A special group/family ticket (up to five people) is available for $70.
For more information about upcoming productions, getting involved in the theater and to make reservations for "The Fantasticks" call civ (0611) 143-548-9812.
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