The Last Romance at New Theatre Restaurant
An evening at the theater does not get much better than New Theatre's "The Last Romance." Joe DiPietro's "The Last Romance" is a rare example of a charming, tiny, four-person comedy-drama that rises to be an extraordinary production through the talent force of its actors and the care of its director.

Last season's exceptional chemistry in "Driving Miss Daisy" between well-known and award winning television actors Michael Learned (Olivia Walton in "The Waltons") and Charlie Robinson (Mac in "Night Court) encouraged Director and New Theatre CEO Denis D. Hennessy to reunite these two super actors. I suspect Hennessy has a warm spot for "The Last Romance." The world premiere engagement of the play opened at New Theatre back in 2006 again directed by Denis D Hennessy.
It is a simple story. Ralph Taylor (Charlie Robinson) is a widowed, lonely, retired railroad worker who lives with his twenty-two year separated sister Rose (Marjorie Johnson). Rose and Ralph are all that remains of a large, observant Catholic family. Rose has made protecting and caring for her older brother her life's work. She moved in just after Ralph's wife Anna passed more than a decade ago. But sometimes Ralph needs a little space from all of Rose's intense caring.

Ralph is an amiable sort. He has lived a good and successful life except for one special dream not quite realized. As a young man, Ralph dreamed of being an opera singer. He even successfully auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera, but the call that welcomed him to the company somehow never reached him.
Ralph is in the habit of walking each morning, but this particular day Ralph alters his time schedule and his route to a quiet bench at a neighborhood dog park. He enjoys watching the dogs he would love to have owned frolic. He also spies an attractive older woman and her tiny dog.
Ralph attempts a conversation. Carol Reynolds (Michael Learned) is reticent to engage with Ralph, but he eventually wins her over. They become friends and meet daily for private, flirtatious talks. Each harbors a secret that is theirs alone.
They slowly learn much about each other. Carol is afraid to fly. Ralph shares his love of grand opera. Carol agrees to attend a local opera performance with Ralph. The relationship deepens much to Rose's concern.

As an avatar for the Young Ralph, Director Hennessy has cast the exceptional Orson Van Gay II. Young Ralph is a bridge between Ralph's youthful dreams and a future he aspires to. Van Gay II is one of the finest operatic tenors I have had the pleasure of hearing in very long time. He is a device used to connect scenes and to step seamlessly back into Ralph's imagination.
With a singer as skilled as Van Gay II, the device works wonderfully.
Carol surprises Ralph with his dream trip. They will travel to La Scala in Italy to hear Ralph's signature dream opera. Carol will overcome her fear of flying for Ralph, but will their individual secrets stand in the way?
To find out, you will need to see "The Last Romance" at New Theatre Restaurant. It is a production worth more than the price of dinner and a show with your best partner. This cast is absolutely worth seeing. This set by a Broadway designer is worth experiencing.
"The Last Romance" continues through November 17th. Tickets are available at https://newtheatre.com/upcoming-shows or by telephone at 913.649 Show.
Photos courtesy of New Theatre Restaurant
From This Author - Alan Portner
Al Portner is regional editor for Broadway World – Kansas City. He is a retired career journalist and media executive who has written for publication over more than 40 years. Portner ha... (read more about this author)

January 18, 2023
Blend two ancient Greek myths, add the climate change crisis, a screed on capitalism, fears surrounding immigration, sprinkle in delightful, original folk music, and stir. The unlikely result is the 2019 eight-time Tony-winning folk opus “Hadestown,” an exceptional piece of musical theater.

December 10, 2022
New Theatre Restaurant’s new production of Neil Simon’s COME BLOW YOUR HORN is a holiday gift to its audiences. It is a charming, gentle entertainment that rekindles a time when you were too busy laughing to worry about anything else.

December 8, 2022
Very entertaining - if not high concept. Pretty Woman is a hoot.

October 10, 2022
Playing now at Music Theater Heritage through October 23 at Crown Center is an imaginative new production of 1965's Tony award winning Best Musical 'Man of La Mancha' offered by Musical Theater Heritage.

December 12, 2021
One of the annual challenges inherent to creating an absolutely new “Spectacular Christmas Show” at Musical l Theater Heritage is how to differentiate this year’s production from the thirteen editions that preceded it. I have been privileged to see eight of the fourteen iterations and can promise you that each production is professional, well performed, entertaining and very different from earlier versions. Sure, you will recognize some of the music, but it is unlikely that the key will be one you are pre-programed to have heard before or that the various harmonies will be hackneyed.