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Health & Fitness

'Tuesdays with Morrie' at The Brookfield Theatre for the Arts - My Review

A lovely two-character play continues through Sept. 21 at TBTA.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher is being presented at The Brookfield Theatre for the Arts through September 21. It is based upon Mr. Albom's book of the same name about his past professor Morrie Schwartz's battle with ALS and reflections on living and dying. It stars Ron Malyszka in the title role and Gary Millar as Mitch Ablom and is directed by Tom Sheehan.

Artistic Director Michael Burnett's calls the play "truly a journey of the heart for each and every member of the [production] team." His hope is that by recreating the teachings of the gifted Professor Schwartz, the audience will find new inspiration in his words.

The director appreciates that the "beauty and inspiration of Morrie's words is that he believed what he said and lived his life accordingly. Right to the end." Mr. Sheehan calls the play that chronicles the rekindled relationship of teacher and student a story of "love, passion, dedication and perseverance." He also thanks a professor that he had at Fairfield University posthumously in his notes.

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The play runs 90 minutes and is presented without an intermission and I didn't notice the time until after the first hour because I was so engrossed in the action. The two actors interact in various areas on the rather sparse set (at least compared to the city grittiness it sported for Rent) designed by Andrew Okell with only a few costume changes (designed by Meg Jones and Karen E. Stickler) to show the passage of time. Mr. Malyszka adds medical devices as his character's disease takes away his mobility. There are some nice lighting effects by Chris Gillette and some authentic props by the stage manager Carol Martino. There are fine sound effects executed by Bennett Cognato that included some uncredited singing. One black out was uncomfortably long and I at least couldn't see why.

The rest is just the two actors and what fine ones they are. Mr. Millar has a slew of credits at TBTA and is excellent in this role. His Mitch is a hard-working sports writer with another type of story to tell. The actors brings a gentle quality to the role and does a fine job with the comedy, and there is plenty of it in the script. Mr. Malyszka, who has a huge number of credits to his name, is even better in the role of the consummate teacher; his Morrie is spot on.

Find out what's happening in Brookfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I saw the movie version years ago. I liked the play a little more because it seemed to reduced the story to its essential elements and the characters were more clearly drawn and even more poignant and likable. Mr. Sheehan's strong direction shows throughout this production. As Producer Kristin Hoose promised in her announce, it truly made the audience laugh (a lot) and cry.

The nonprofit TBTA is so supportive of their supporters that the names of season subscribers are listed in the programs, and apologies are made for any errors or omissions. I think that is a nice touch.

Tuesdays with Morrie continues Fri. & Sat. at 8PM - Sept. 13, 14, 20, 21. There is also a Sunday matinee on Sept. 15 at 2PM. Doors open one hour before curtain and tickets are only $20. Their lobby artist is abstract painter Carlos Serbia.
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