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Regional Reviews: Florida - Southern Tuesdays With Morrie
Tuesdays With Morrie is the autobiographical story of Detroit sports writer Mitch Albom and his former Brandeis sociology professor Morrie Schwartz. Sixteen years after graduating college, Mitch finds himself a successful, career-obsessed journalist with something lacking in his life. By chance, he catches his ex-professor Morrie on Ted Koppel's Nightline one evening. His beloved "coach" and mentor is suffering from the incurable Lou Gehrig's Disease, or ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Faced with his own broken promises to keep in touch, and longing for the peace he once found in Morrie's guidance, he rushes to see Morrie the next Tuesday to say good-bye. Once he is there, Morrie asks him the question: "Are you being as human as you possibly can?" Mitch is unable to truly answer this, and his planned one-time visit becomes a weekly quest as Morrie's lessons in sociology are now replaced with lessons on the meaning of life and love. Morrie's health inevitably fails, but filled with insight and love, he gives those gifts to Mitch as he gradually slips away. In Mr. Albom's words: "leaves are never more colorful then just before they die." Harold Gould as Morrie is simply marvelous. He convincingly portrays Morrie's degenerative battle with ALS, and captures both fun and noble qualities in his character. Dominic Fumusa as Mitch has genuine believability. Together they make the play heartfelt and witty without being mushy or trite. Playwright Mitch Albom is also the author of the New York Times bestseller The Five People You Meet In Heaven. As a sports reporter he has been named #1 Sports Columnist in the Nation by APSE for over ten years, hosts two nationally syndicated radio talk shows for ABC, and is a panelist on ESPN's "Sports Reporters" seen every Sunday. Tuesdays with Morrie was published in 1997 and was on the New York Times hardcover Best Seller list for 205 weeks. The book was turned into a television movie in 1999 starring Jack Lemmon and Hank Azaria, and received four Emmy Awards. With the help of fellow playwright Jeffrey Hatcher, it has been adapted for stage. This production of Tuesdays With Morrie at the Coconut Grove Playhouse marks the debut of the play's 13-city Broadway Across America National Tour. Tuesdays With Morrie plays at the Coconut Grove Playhouse through October 9, 2005. Tickets for this show and information on their season may be obtained by calling 305/ 442-4000, or online at www.cgplayhouse.org. The Coconut Grove Playhouse is a LORT Equity theater hiring professional actors from across the United States and offers acting classes for children and adults. The theatre is located at 3500 Main Highway in the heart of Coconut Grove, Florida. Cast Crew Acknowledgements * Designates member of Actor's Equity Association
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