'700 Sundays' - Bravo Billy Crystal!

I never imagined that a one man play starring and written by the comedian Billy Crystal, would make me cry more than any other play I have ever seen.

It was magic last night as '700 Sundays' opened at the Arscht Center.  Within moments of its beginning, Mr. Crystal had us all in the palm of his hand.  Heck, I believe he had all in attendance wishing they were part of his family or had at least grown up with him.

In '700 Sundays' Mr. Crystal has us relive with him, his family life, primarily.  Billy Crystal seems to have been born into a family reminiscent of all our families.  However, Mr. Crystal's family owned the Commodore Record Shop, home of jazz in America.

Every jazz great it seems, were a part of Billy Crystal's youth.  His father and uncle received numerous awards, recognition and honors for their place in the history of jazz.  Mr. Crystal saw his first movie, 'Shane,' sitting on Billie Holiday's lap, in his very young years.

It is impossible to use mere words to explain how funny Billy Crystal is in '700 Sundays.'   Suffice is to say that '700 Sundays' is the most laugh out loud funny play I have seen in decades.  Frankly, I can't recall laughing out loud more in the theater.

The great achievement of this play is that you will find yourself beset by a great battle of tears, almost always, against glorious laughter.

I have mentioned my laughter at '700 Sundays.'  Dare I say that I don't ever recall shedding tears as much in the theater as I did last night?  Wow!  This play gets to you.

Billy Crystal's father died when Billy was 15.  Clearly, this is a sore heartache he still carries.  It is not unique to lose one's father at a young age.  Last night, we believed that the death of Billy Crystal's father, and decades later, his mother, were world shattering events.  How extraordinary.  He made us care so much about his life, his colorful family and everything else about him via gales of laughter.  Then, just when you thought it might be safe to put away the tissues, Billy Crystal breaks our hearts again, and the battle of laughter and tears continue.

I cannot encourage you enough to see '700 Sundays.'  Its brilliance is such that it still has me quite numb and deliriously thankful.

I do not think I will see a play that toys with my emotions as much as Mr. Crystal's ever again.  A ten on the laughter meter, a ten on the tear meter.

Bravo!  What an amazing night of theater this was.

FALL IN LOVE TODAY!  ADOPT A PET FROM YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER