One of my favorite musicals was, unfortunately, not reviewed. She Loves Me the musical comedy, was based on  the novel Little Shop on the Corner, which was made into a movie, then recently remade as You've Got Mail. These are a few scenes from the show.

AS TOM KEENEY IN FUNNY GIRL

MICHAEL KAABE -- ASBURY PARK PRESS June 22, 2001

The Brice is right: Ugly duckling tale is a beautiful night of theater

Watching "Funny Girl" at the Thompson Park Theater Barn in Middletown is a tremendous pleasure for two reasons. One, it is an old-fashioned book musical that is tightly written. It quickly introduces and defines the characters and situations; the songs modify the situations and help move the action forward and -- because the story meshes together the world of show business, the highs and lows of a gambler's life and peeks into the characters' private lives -- it captures one's attention and keeps it for the evening.

The other reason this particular "Funny Girl" is a pleasure to watch is simply that it is a superior production. It is chock-full of wit, imagination and incredible talent.

Philip Dorian -- THE TWO RIVER TIMES June 23, 2000

Musical in Thompson Park 'Positively Gleams'
Everyone should go to "Anything Goes"

IT'S SUMMER. You can tell by the temperature, the beach sights and the Parkway traffic. Another sure sign is the opening of Monmouth County Park System's Theatre Barn in Thompson Park.  Well, it's June, and if you miss the Barn production of Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" your summer will be incomplete. Guaranteed to jump start the season, it's a super show. Excellently directed by Angela Flynn Knox, superbly choreographed by Yvonne Lamb Scudiery and marvelously performed by an outstanding cast, the musical is exhilarating.

Want to find the ultimate blend of gruffness and delicacy in a comic actor? Look no further than Sal Giacchi He's right at home with Moonface Martin's slapstick antics and even manages to to scrape the rust from the hokey one-liners.

...The craziness continues as FBI agents search for Moonface Martin (Sal Giacchi), a wanted criminal.  His disguise as a preacher with his violin is nomatch for the crime fighters He soon finds himself behind bars.  Whenever you see Sal's name on the program, you know you're in for a comedy treat.

 

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Philip Dorian -- THE TWO RIVER TIMES  February 11, 2000

Phoenix Productions Delivers 'Baby'
Musical fable of parenthood at Studio Theatre

Credit Phoenix Theatre with getting the most from the least. In their production, playing through this weekend, the whole show is better than the sum of its parts. It's a fortuitous triple blend of adroit direction, congenial performances and the cozy Studio Theatre. Here, three makes "Baby."

The show and the Studio Theatre and the fresh, eager cast are a good fit. So take a few cleansing breaths (and a seat cushion) and go to the theatre. All in all, Mother Phoenix and "Baby" are doing just fine.

Deserving Curtain Calls For Local Theater Folk

PD Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Community Theater

MOST APPROPRIATE PRODUCTION IN A SMALL PLACE:
This one goes to Phoenix Production's "The Fantasticks," presented in their cozy Studio Theatre.

BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE Sal Giacchis:
This guy has turned gruffness into an art form. Biggley in "How to Succeed" and a Brigand in "Kismet" featured his imposing presence. (Can I mention his Luther Billis from two years ago? Why not, they're my awards.)

Philip Dorian --THE TWO RIVER TIMES  November 12, 1999

'Kismet' at the Count Basie

Phoenix Productions has revived 'Kismet' for a two weekend run, ending this Sunday afternoon. Buoyed by some good performances in leading roles (one absolutely superb), excellent scenic effects and a rich, full bodied orchestra, the musty show is worth a visit to the Count Basie... Tim Hayes is an imposing outlaw, and Sal Giacchi as his henchman gets the most, as he usually does, from a brief scene.

Anna Lucia --THE ATLANTICVILLE  September 23, 1999

A Funny Thing Happened on a night at the Count Basie

With the hit song "Comedy Tonight" bringing the stage to life in complete gaiety, this fast-moving musical farce presented a bevy of scantily clad beauties, a breathing, moving statue, Erroneous's adorable legs and--believe it or not--a VIRGIN.

Anna Lucia -- THE ATLANTICVILLE  August 5, 1999

A Grand Night for Singing at Parks production of State Fair

Sal Giacchi was a comedy hit as Judge Heppenstahl.  The audience roared as he "tried" to proclaim Kathy Cofield (Melissa Frake) the winner with her entry of the tampered, punched up pot of mince meat.  Bravo to SAL!  No one could have done it better.

Philip Dorian -- THE TWO RIVER TIMES June 25, 1999

"How to Succeed" Succeeds as Family Fare at Thompson Park
Bring the kids to Broadway's spoof on climbing the corporate ladder

With some new faces performing well in leading roles, and established local stalwarts outstanding in secondary ones, the production is very pleasing.

Lifting the show to a higher level are Bill Brown as Frump, the boss's incompetent, nerdy nephew, Leslie Fornino as Smitty, Rosemary's sidekick; the reliable Sal Giacchi as J. B. Biggley, Wicket's president; and the sublime Marisa Pallante, absolutely perfect as Hedy Larue, the dumb-like-a-fox mistress. Those four could give comedy timing lessons. Good work. ...Let's just state the obvious: "How to Succeed" is a success.

 

Anna Lucia -- THE ATLANTICVILLE  May 13, 1999

Fantasticks has the right ingredients for success

1 Small Town
1 Small Theatre (80 seats)
1 Small Stage
1 Small Cast
1 Set of mostly homemade props
1 Ton of Enthusiasm
1 Gazillion gallons of talent
Months of planning
Many hours of hard work

Mix all the ingredients well until ready to perform, and voila, you have another BIG hit show from the phenomenal Phoenix Players.

The small stage was bursting with extraordinary talent... A big welcome for Sal Giacchi (Belomy) to the Phoenix family...a great theatrical evening...  Guys and gals take your love to see this one.  It's no surprise that it's the longest running show in New York history.

Philip Dorian -- THE TWO RIVER TIMES May 14, 1999

Musical Charmer Playing at Phoenix Studio Theatre

The off-Broadway production opened May 3rd, 1960 (Jack Benny would be pleased), and there's no end in sight. I last saw it at the Sullivan Street Playhouse about a dozen years ago, and it was stale, perfunctorily performed. Not so in Red Bank this May, where it's done with obvious affection and care.

Wayne Peck and Sal Giacchi contrast suitably as the fathers. They work well together, and their songs, especially "Plant a Radish" recall a vaudeville turn. Both are versatile character actors.

In a week when I saw the ponderously awful "The Civil War" on Broadway, "The Fantasticks" in a former Wawa store in downtown Red Bank was still, to coin a phrase, a breath of fresh air.