Two outstanding South African actors bring to the
Played by the consummate Graham Hopkins and the younger Asher Stoltz, it is a magnificent portrait of life, written by Mitch Albom that effortlessly blends comedy, drama and poignancy into a cohesive whole.
A good slice of the success of this two-hander should also go to director Alan Swerdlow who manages to siphon into his production the essence of one's humanity; the taking and the giving.
This is life. We grow up, we get old and we die. This process forms the basic framework around which this play has been conceived. It is not miserable or depressing. It is full of life and it works wonderfully well on all levels.
Written for the stage by Mitch Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher, and based on Albom's best-selling book, "Tuesdays with Morrie" is a veritable feast for both the mind and the heart. The players, working within Niall Griffin's simple but effective set with its minimum of props, manage to create Morrie's little world and they execute it with immense artistry and joy.
The story is about a young man Mitch (Stoltz) who meets a professor Morrie Schwartz (
When it comes time for Mitch to leave and make his way in the world he promises Morrie that he will keep in touch. He doesn't. It is sixteen years before Mitch and Morrie meet again. By this time Mitch is a successful sportswriter and Morrie is dying of Lou Gehrig's disease.
Once they renew their friendship Mitch's visits to Morrie become a regular thing. He flies from
The writing is precise and captures the feelings and emotions about our own mortality. Says Morrie: "Dying is not a dirty word - I can live with that."
In another instance he intones words to the effect that dying is only one thing to be unhappy about, while living your life unhappily is something else."
It never ceases to amaze me the depth and range of Graham Hopkins' acting and in his sensitive reading of the Morrie character he brings tears to the eyes. He creates an endearing entity from the moment we meet him. He is witty and wise without being overbearing. Stoltz, whose stature grows with each outing, provides a nice balance to the story, adding a performance that is calm and measured.
The acting styles of the performers complement each other and through this link take the audience on an inspiring journey of compassion and understanding.
The two characters command the stage for the entire production, almost two hours, and the fact that one does not grow tired of watching them and hearing some of the wisdom that flows is stark testimony to the true enchantment of "Tuesdays with Morrie."
every week and has Tuesdays with Morrie. And during these visits he begins to learn some of the secrets of life - and death.
