Monte Cristo.

In its 57th year, The York Theatre company still impresses audiences across New York City! Last night I had the pleasure of attending ""Monte Cristo" at the bucolic St. Jean's Theatre. This theater is the new home of The York Theatre company and it is more fitting for the make-up of The York Company. It has an orchestra pit, the stage is bigger and more elegant.

With a great cast, even better staging and phenomenal music by Peter Kellogg and Stephen Weiner (book and lyrics Kellogg, Music Weiner) the shows length is not an issue, the time and pace go by quickly.

The plot is steadfast to the book by Alexandre Dumas; it takes us through the turbulent life of Edmund (Adam Jacobs). Jacobs is both a talented actor and singer (Aladdin), as is the whole cast. His love for Mercedes (Sierra Boggess) never dies, even when he is jailed for 18 years on false charges; their chemistry onstage is thoughtful and well directed by Peter Flynn. What makes "Monte Cristo" stand out is several fold: The staging (Anne Mundell), the deft projection (Shawn Duan); the incredible costumes that define the period(Amanda Roberge); the sound design (Joanna Lynne Staub) and the lighting (Alan C. Edwards) that captures the mood and the feel of this edgy at times musical!

The York Theatre Company has been continuous in it's first rate theatre, from the Mufti's and it's musicals over the years. I think like "Cagney" and "Desperate Measures" to name a few, this great show will make it's way to an off Broadway house for a commercial run because it is that good by all aspects! This show is by far and away one of the best off off Broadway shows that I have seen in years! Nothing about this show was spared, the acting, the singing, the orchestrations and everything else was thoroughly professional! Well Done!. This show was interesting the way it was put on. Not an easy show to do onstage but York Nailed it.

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As we move on to the theater season for spring, it is 1 up and 1 down. "Every Brilliant Thing" was excellent and "Death of a Salesman" was ho hum. Done in the modern like in 2022, this "Death" just did not cut it. Nathan Lane could not cover the role as Willy Loman. The older sons too were not that believable as Biff and Happy.

The costuming in "Death" was a little erratic, the lighting was fair at best and the direction did not keep the pace here. In this timeless classic, Artur Miller had a vision for this play and I don't think the modern has any place in the realm of classic theater. Let the classics be classic! Why change the genre? Here, Metcalf, Lane and the supporting cast are a menagerie of actors thrown into a play.

Nathan Lane is a great comedic actor- he loses the room with his non emotional delivery in this three hour play. The Older Biff as well as the older Happy never look or act the part of what was intended for these two in the original Miller play. The cast itself never rises to the occasion of the heartfelt play, one of Miller's best plays.

Miller has written some timeless pieces: from Crucible, Death of a Salesman, All my Sons, The Price, The Ride Down Mt. Morgan and many more. To bring his plays to the modern is not the best idea as audiences seem to resist the modern and yearn for the classic.

Broadway Bob Massimi, No Bull With Raging Robert, Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo, Nathan Lane, Iran, New York Lifestyles Magazine.