Darryl Maximilian Robinson Presents His Henry Albertson In 'The Fantasticks' Hollywood Stage Notes

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With The Role Of The Old Shakespearean Actor Henry Albertson In The 2010 Hollywood Fringe Festival 50th Anniversary Revival Of Tom Jones' and Harvey Schmidt's "The Fantasticks," Award-Winning Chicago-Born And Stage-Trained Actor And Play Director Darryl Maximilian Robinson Made Both His Hollywood And Greater Los Angeles Area Stage Debut!

Now Celebrating His 50th Anniversary As An American Stage Performer, Darryl Maximilian Robinson Reflects On This Occasion By Providing Notes And Photos Of The Critically-Praised Production!

Your humble servant in The Theatre, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, has appeared in no less than five revival productions of "The Fantasticks" during his 50-year-long stage career, beginning in 1977 in the role of Mortimer, "The Man Who Dies" in a Sheil Park Players staging at The Chicago Park District's Theatre-On-The-Lake ( in Lincoln Park ); the part of Henry Albertson in The 1978 Chicagoland Youth Theatrical Troupe staging at Northwest Federal Savings' Clyde B. Reed Auditorium ( in the Windy City's Portage Park neighborhood ); the leading role of The Narrator, El Gallo, in the 1981 Enchanted Hills Playhouse of Syracuse, Indiana revival; a return to the role of Henry Albertson as part of the 1983 summer repertory season at The Mainstage Repertory Theater at Marriott's Tan-Tar-A Resort of Osage Beach, Missouri; and once again the role of Henry Albertson in the 2010 50th Anniversary revival staging of the work produced by The Tribe Productions at Los Angeles' Complex Theatre as part of the first-ever Hollywood Fringe Festival.

"The cast hits their stride in Act 1 with 'It Depends on What You Pay.' It's Just about that time that Darryl Maximilian Robinson gives the show a shot in the arm with his high-energy over the top Henry. Robinson is a comedian clearly comfortable on the stage and well trained. His Henry is quite simply a hoot and expertly delivered." -- Bree Long LA Theatre Review.com / The Hollywood Fringe Daily Rag Day Three Saturday, June 19, 2010.

"Additionally the production offers a delightful comic duo of Henry ( Darryl Maximilian Robinson ) and Mortima ( Stacy Lynn Baker ) who portray the hopelessly inept two-person acting troupe reminiscent of the craftsmen in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was always disappointing when Henry and Mortima had to exit as their mutual rapport was outstanding to watch." -- Kyra Oser The Los Angeles Budget Theatre Examiner Friday, July 2, 2010.

His portrayal of Henry Albertson in the 2010 Hollywood staging proved to be his personal favorite.

A testament to Tom Jones' ( Book and Lyrics ) and Harvey Schmidt's ( Musical Score ) intimate, classic romantic musical "The Fantasticks"' staying and playing power occurred during the late spring and early summer of 2010 when a talented young theatre ensemble called The Tribe Productions presented a Hollywood Fringe Festival 50th Anniversary Revival Production of the acclaimed theatre piece at The Complex Theatre in Los Angeles.

The revival directed by Christopher Chase with musical direction by Tiffany Oliver featured skilled actor / singer Christopher Karbo as The Narrator El Gallo, the lovely and talented ( and future Broadway Performer ) Madison Mitchell as The Girl, Luisa, physically-amazing actress Setareh Khatibi as The Mute, and in his Hollywood and Greater Los Angeles stage debut, Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project Founder and 1997 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Outstanding Actor In A Principal Role In A Play Award Winner Darryl Maximilian Robinson ( who also recently received a 2019 Broadwayworld Chicago Award nomination for Best Performer In A Musical or Revue - Resident Non-Equity for his critically-praised performance of the dual roles of The Chairman Mr. William Cartwright and The Mayor Thomas Sapsea in the 2018 Saint Sebastian Players of Chicago revival of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning Best Musical Whodunit "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" mounted at the more than a century old St Bonaventure Church in The Windy City ) appeared as the old Shakespearean actor Henry Albertson opposite talented young comic actress Stacy Lynn Baker as Mortima ( in this production aka Mortimer "The Woman Who Dies" ).

The Tribe Productions' 2010 Hollywood Fringe Festival 50th Anniversary Revival Production of "The Fantasticks" earned an Hollywood Fringe Festival Nomination for "Best of Fringe" as well as fine notices in the June 19 2010 LA Theatre Review.Com / Hollywood Fringe Daily Rag and the July 2 2010 Los Angeles Budget Theatre Examiner.

And in the great tradition of the role of Henry Albertson, veteran and award-winning stage actor and play director Darryl Maximilian Robinson ( a 2022 Making The World Happening Award Winner for his numerous online theatre-related offerings at Allevents.in ) is pleased to share with you "The Clippings"!

https://www.townplanner.com/event/672678/

https://theatre.fandom.com/wik...

https://www.alignable.com/los-...

https://www.abouttheartists.co...

https://theatreblogofdarrylmax...

https://www.hollywoodfringe.or...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/...

"This reviewer continues to be impressed with the versatile talent of Darryl Maximilian Robinson, who has had key roles in the other two Enchanted Hills successes this season and who did it again in The Fantasticks as El Gallo. The role is not an easy one, and as Mr Robinson stepped from being an omniscient narrator into his other assignment as a swashbuckling microcosm of life in the real world itself, it was obvious that he can do difficult things and do them well." -- Bill Spurgeon, Playhouse version of The Fantasticks successful, The Mail-Journal of Syracuse, Indiana, July 22, 1981.

Darryl Maximilian Robinson has become noted as the very first black actor in American Theatre History to portray on stage a trio of classic dramatic roles including: Sir Thomas More in Robert Bolt's "A Man For All Seasons" ( in a 1984 revival presented by The University Players of The University of Missouri-St. Louis and directed by AEA Member John Grassilli at The Benton Hall Theater ); King Henry II in a 1992 multiracial cast revival of James Goldman's "The Lion In Winter" ( directed by Mr. Robinson for his chamber theatre Excaliber Productions, Ltd in St. Louis and staged at The Wabash Triangle Cafe ); and Andrew Wyke ( opposite the talented actor Sean Nix as Milo Tindle ) in a 2000, 30th Anniversary, all-black cast revival of Anthony Shaffer's "Sleuth" presented under Mr. Robinson's direction by his chamber theatre The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago at The Harrison Street Galleries Studio Theatre of Oak Park, Illinois.

Most recently, Darryl Maximilian Robinson was named a winner of a 2022 Making The World Happening Award from Allevents.in for his numerous online theatre-related offerings during the early years of The Covid-19 pandemic.