reviewvancouver: Tuesdays With Morrie

(The real) Morrie Schwartz, who died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease), only wanted to be remembered as a teacher. Thanks to Mitch Albom’s autobiographical account in the form of his book and this theatrical version by the same name, he may have got his wish.

I had already seen an earlier production of the same show - actually, a pretty good one - about three years ago on Granville Island. So I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to see an economy version with someone other than Antony Holland in the title role. I’m glad that I did. I’m sure this Pacific Theatre and Gallery 7 Theatre mounting of Tuesdays With Morrie could probably stand up against any other on a Vancouver or Toronto stage.

Glen Pinchin gets the nod to play Schwartz, a sociology professor at Brandeis University. Pinchin, who was a thirty-year veteran with the RCMP and has turned to acting as a second career was spot-on as the Jewish academic who spurts out terse truisms like he might dispense food samples at a supermarket.

Ken Hildbrandt portrays sports writer, and former jazz musician Mitch Albom, and also provides contributory narration – quite appropriate since it’s his story. The two men reconnect after a sixteen year abnegation following Albom accidently coming across his former teacher’s television interviews with Ted Koppel. He decides to visit the man he remembered referring to as “coach” and thereafter every Tuesday as he contemplates his mentor’s physical deterioration.

For this production, Pacific Theatre departs from its usual split seating plan allowing John Bessette’s highly detailed set to take up the entire south end of the theatre space. Director Carissa Boynton hardly ever allows the single act, 80-minute show to become maudlin, preferring Schwartz’s dry humour to show through. Lines like “I used to be an agnostic, now I’m not so sure” are delivered with Pinchin’s natural comic timing.

Cynics (like myself), might regard Tuesdays With Morrie as just another sentimental tear-jerker, more superficial than sincere. Well, they may have a point. But, it might still make you laugh, feel, and even think about your own mortality. It might even prompt you to borrow Letting Go: Morrie's Reflections on Living While Dying from your local public library - written by Morris S. Schwartz.