By Harold Egeln
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

WILLOW PLACE – There are six very good reasons in October to be optimistic in Brooklyn Heights. That’s the number of weekend performances coming up for the Heights Players marvelously delightful and simply astounding staging of Candide, the tuneful musical conceived by Leonard Bernstein.

It’s one of the best of all possible productions of this triumphal troupe, now in its 54th season. The Friday evening opening performance of the misadventures, misperceptions and miscalculations of the young Candide, banished from his home village and dispatched into dangers as he holds onto his optimism, was truly a happy time to spend in a theater.

This humorous retelling of Voltaire’s satirical book was a mindful weave of singing, acting, dancing and staging. It is drawn from a performance by the Royal National Theatre in London in April 1999 in a new version by John Caird. The original Candide had its Broadway debut in December 1956, and its book was originally by Lillian Hellman. This one’s book is by Hugh Wheeler, with additional lyrics by Stephen Sonheim, among others.

In this Brooklyn Heights production, credit goes to the troupe’s talents and skills as well as the production staff.

Musical storyteller Raymond Wagner is perfect as Voltaire. Outstanding performances are also given by Bernard Milan as the befuddled but ever-pondering Candide, Tom Levy as tutor Dr. Pangloss teaching the enduring virtues of optimism, Marie Ingrisano as the Bavarian innkeeper and Surinam slave, and Alea Vorillas as Cunegonde for memorable performances.

There was no full orchestra, but the ample talents of musical director David Schaeffer at the piano helped to make The Heights Players’ production the gem it is. All this is due to the superb attention that director Albert Walsh threw lovingly and thoughtfully into this Candide production, which was presented through arrangement with Music Theatre International.

Of the musical numbers, the singing of the “Ballad of Eldorado� made my eyes tear, as did the final song, “Make Our Garden Grow.� In fact all the songs were very well done, with more special musical medals to the “Best of All Possible Worlds� and “Universal Good.�

From Eldorado to Brooklyn Heights, Candide remains an enjoyable voyage into the delights of music making and the follies of humanity framed in storytelling.

“As Brooklyn’s oldest self-sustaining, not-for-profit community theater, we present the highest quality theater at a very low price; in other words, the best of all possible worlds,� said Heights Players President Ed Healy.

Performances are on Oct. 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25. For performance reservations, call (718) 237-2752. For further information, visit www.heightsplayers.org.

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