New Vista Theatre Gives Rebirth to Jacques Brel

Critics Rating: 4.5 out of 5 spotlights

Avi Hoffman, the well known actor, director and producer has brought his Carbonell-Award winning ensemble of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris to Boca Raton’s New Vista Theatre Company.

Jacques Brel is a beautiful collection of French and English culture immersed in a colorful atmosphere that livens up all generations from the people that saw the original show on Broadway to this twenty-five year old critic who had no idea who Jacques Brel was before seeing this show.

The cast, consisting of two actors and two actresses consistently keep their audiences involved in the show, from “Alone” to Jacques Brel’s most popular song, “If We Only Have Love.”

Avi Hoffman, who also co-directs the show with Andrew Rasmussen, joins his wife, Laura Turnbull, Lisa Manuli and native Frenchmen Tangi Colombel to bring audiences an energetic musical revue full of love, war, life and death brilliantly with fun choreography.

Individual solos were smartly chosen, giving each voice the opportunity to show every actor’s strengths and talents.

Avi Hoffman brings his own professional interpretation and musical flexibility to some of Brel’s most well known upbeat songs such as “Jackie” and “Amsterdam” into songs of loss such as in “Fanette”.

Laura Turnbull uses her soothing voice to sing such ballads as “My Death” and “Old Folks” and the moving anti-war tune, “Sons Of”. Her mixture of tone and emotion brings the true sorrow for the loss of life.

Lisa Manuli’s young and innocent look allows her to fit the role of “Timid Frieda” perfectly along with “My Childhood”. Do not allow this innocent look to fool you as this young woman can belt a note like nothing you have ever heard in “Marieke”.

Tangi Colombel’s high-spirited performance gives audiences a beautiful taste of the French aspect of this show during his duets with Manuli in “Ne Me Quitte Pas” and with Turnbull in “Sons of”. He can’t help but draw audiences to his performances of “Bachelor’s Dance” and his war satire, “The Bulls”.

These are just some of the examples of the ingenious song allocations in this show, originally performed in the 1960’s to an audience returning to see a recreation of the original production and bringing a new group of theater goers with them.

Kudos goes to Ian Almeida for a magnificent set design full of hanging chairs, an old grandfather clock and beautiful stage presence. Although the many props, spread out among the set tends to clutter the stage and make your eyes wander, it does fit in with the overall design of the show. Special recognition also belongs to Lance Blank for amazing light design throughout the stage.

I highly recommend all theater lovers attend this show and experience this unique interpretation of a young Belgian’s look at life.

The New Vista Theatre Company will continue it’s season with Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple, playing from February 14^th through March 2^nd , featuring Avi Hoffman and Gary Marachek. Bruce Adler and Clarence Gilyard will co-star in I’m Not Rappaport, playing from May 1^st through May 18^th and the theatre company will conclude it’s 2007-2008 season with Alan Sherman’s musical, Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduah, featuring Avi Hoffman from June 19^th through July 6^th.

For more information, please contact the New Vista Theatre Company at www.newvistatheatre.com or call (888) 284-4633 or by checking out www.fusion726.com/5mins