Try to Remember - The Fantasticks

This is the first review I have written for anything I have purchased from Amazon...and I have purchased many items!This is a wonderful documentary capturing the magic of The Fastasticks from the creators' early collaborations through today. Learning the story of the original producer, who stayed through the end of the all the performances AND also played one of the fathers for 16 years was one of the many things I learned from viewing this film.I have many films I've purchased and not even watched yet. This I watched within an hour of receiving it today.Don't miss it whether you ever saw The Fantasticks at The Sullivan Street Playhouse or not....I'm fortunate that Hurricane Gloria did not hit New York City in the way it was predicted because that was the weekend of my first wedding anniversary and I had tickets to see The Fantasticks at The Sullivan Street Playhouse. That was September 23, 1985 the first and only time I saw The Fantasticks. I will never forget it. Because of Jerry Orbach's death I discovered the existence of this DVD and am thrilled to have it. I never saw Jerry Orbach on Broadway or The Fantasticks, but I always think of him as El Gallo and a great stage actor.Enjoy!

I searched and searched for this DVD - It was worth it. I was lucky enough to be in the audience in The Village in 1961. The show was new - the music was new - and when I left the theatre the music sang in my head and heart as if I had memorized it all. The performance stands out as one of those magical memories for me. After 42 years in the same theatre, it proves my response was that of many, many people. This DVD is well done!

The description refers to the composer, the author, and Jerry Orbach as central to this documentary. Below that it states that the stars are F. Murray Abraham (who won an Oscar for his role in Amadeus) and Orbach. In fact, Orbach had perhaps 3 minutes of face time, Abraham less in this film. This is flat out false advertising. Worse, although Fantasticks is a musical, there was almost no music at all in this film, and what little there was, was poorly done. At one point they show a still photo of Barbra Streisand who, they say, sang Try to Remember, and then one of Harry Belafonte, who they say did the same, but we don't hear a note from either of them. Nearly all the time is taken up by people who once upon a time played a role in this musical, and now they're old, and oh how wonderful it was, and how wonderful the show was, and how wonderful everybody involved in the show was, one man refers to the little Greenwich Village theater where it played as a shrine, and oh everything was just wonderful. A total waste of an hour.

The DVD was delightful. We did the play when I was in college, but I never knew much about its history. All the many artists involved, the very fact that it was done in that tiny theater, with the players practically in the audiences' laps, the staging and music~ it was all very innovative, unique, and exciting. Add in how much it became woven into the fabric of New York culture, and the play took on a life of its own. It was a story and a phenomenon unto itself. I found the DVD extremely interesting, and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the play, or in musical theater itself

This was a great look back on a show that makes people feel good in the end. The intimacy of the theater was perfect. I was able to see it last year and the funniest part was when El Gallo was doing the exaggerated death scene and wound up face to face with my friend who is 6'6" and 457 pounds. Even the actor was taken aback which made it even funnier.

A delightful and entertaining look at the history of one of the most performed musicals to ever simply grace any stage, professional or community or educational. Who hasn't seen this probably isn't living in this world. Try to remember.....it is unforgettable. Sorry it's gone, but definitely not in our hearts and minds.

Somewhere in a misty memory there are hidden songs we try to remember, and then we do.And if you have a memory of live theater, you do remember--so easily staged, recognizable characters, and music that lingers, and lingers.If you haven't seen the play, watch this----and you will.

Very interesting bit of theater history, moves along and could of been longer.

Please be advised that this is a nice DVD with interviews and information on the staging of _The Fantasticks_. However, this DVD does not contain the actual musical.

Leider kann man die DVD in Deutschland nicht abspielen. Also nur ein Stern. Da ich weiß, dass die Show toll ist, mache ich jetzt keinen Ärger deswegen.