Fantasticks, The

Fantasticks, The (1960), a musical by Tom Jones (book, lyrics), Harvey Schmidt (music). [Sullivan Street Playhouse, 17,162 perf.] The fathers of the Boy called Matt ( Kenneth Nelson) and the Girl called Luisa ( Rita Gardner) build a wall between their homes, not because of any real animosity but on the assumption that the best way to kindle a romance is to appear to oppose it. They even hire El Gallo ( Jerry Orbach) to stage a mock abduction so that Matt can rescue Luisa and seem a hero. The youngsters discover their parents' ploy, fall out, and go their separate ways. Eventually, however, they return to each other, disillusioned but more mature. Notable songs: Try to Remember; Soon It's Gonna Rain; They Were You; Much More; I Can See It. The musicalization of Edmond Rostand's Les Romanesques opened to indifferent notices at the 150‐seat theatre and seemed in danger of closing, but producer Lore Noto and a small band of loyalists helped publicize it, and the little Off‐Broadway musical went on to run for forty‐three years, the longest‐running show in New York theatre history. The Fantasticks has not only been popular with schools and community playhouses, but it was one of the first American musicals to be produced around the world.