tuesdays with morrie | responses

"There is a wondeful connection between Ken Hildebrandt (Mitch) and Glen Pinchin (Morrie), especially during their weekly conversations. Both are masters of the pause with Hildebrandt managing wonderful phrasing when he is simply engaged in talking with Morrie. There is a leisurely pace that runs through the entire show, unhurried as if death can wait and kudos to director Carissa Boynton and her actors in not being afraid of silence." | Mark Robins, GayVancouver.net

"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. ... 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." | John Jane, Review Vancouver

"A Gallery 7 Theatre production of the touching tale, Tuesdays with Morrie opened Pacific Theatre’s 2011/12 season with a double shot of soul this past Wednesday night." | Maziar Ghaderia, Maziart

"Tuesdays with Morrie is absolutely outstanding. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed and cried so much all in the same production. Heartfelt thanks to the cast, crew and all involved-- a truly wonderful gift, and not to be missed." | Barbara Joan, email response

"The beauty in Pinchin’s characterization comes from its humility. He never calls attention to the old man’s cuteness or irascibility. The focus for Pinchin’s Morrie is all on Mitch; he’s just trying to gently help out the uptight younger guy. ... Pinchin already understands the value of less." | Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight

"This was one of the best plays I have ever seen at Pacific Theatre! Which is quite astounding because they are all so good but this one was great! It got a standing ovation." | Audience Response, Facebook

"The 80 minute play (with no intermission) captures audiences from the beginning, as Mitch appears on stage in a monologue describing Morrie. ... Glen Pinchin, as Morrie, perfectly portrays a man whose body is slowly degenerating, and captures the essence of what it would be like to watch your body become frail while your mind is still sharp. With no added make-up and with only a few scene changes, Pinchin’s performance convinces audiences that he is actually dying. His movements are slower, his face is obvious with pain, and his voice becomes that much weaker." | Samuel Ramos, The Source

"Another winner! I am just sorry that it is such a short run. After I told a friend about it on Sunday and she was wanting to see it, I found out there is only one night with any space, and very limited!! As a professional nurse, I found the acting by the man with ALS very sensitively done, without unnecessary detail ! The two actors were remarkable; totally believable in their roles. Anyone who sees the play (me included) will be challenged to think.. Amazing script." | Anne Mak, email response

"I was slightly concerned that I’d find this play to be excessively saccharine and trite. But I need not have worried. The play is about friendship, about accepting weakness and human frailty, and what aging and death can teach us about life. If a moment is about to become maudlin, some caustic sarcasm or embarrassing incident intervenes." | Lois RP, Hummingbird604

"All of the performances at Pacific Theatre are excellent but Tuesday with Morrie was the most excellent performance I have ever seen. I was moved from tears to laughter and back again. In our society it is so hard for us to talk about death even when we have loved ones in the midst of dying. Morrie and Mitch allowed us to draw near to death in a genuine and real way opening the doorway of possiblity for we as an audience to be respond similiarly. In the midst of death, Morrie showed us all how to live, deal with guilt, regret and how to forgive others and ourselves." | Joan, email response