When a creative spirit — an actor, a comedian, an artist — experiences unimaginable tragedy and finds a path toward healing through their art, that journey deserves our admiration.
Theater brings us all closer to our humanity when a person can write and perform their intimate, personal journey with its ups and downs, and make us laugh, cry, and reflect on our own lives and the challenges we’ve faced. The audience can sit and experience how these tragedies mirror their own experiences, but keep on watching despite what is happening — that is nothing less than inspiring. That is what you will feel at the Imperial Theatre on W. 45th St. as you watch the brilliant, funny, vulnerable beloved Actor/Comedian Billy Crystal perform “860,” his autobiographical new play.
This play is 100 minutes of him revisiting the most devastating loss of his life and taking us on a marvelous journey into his comedic and acting career; his lifelong friendships and his over 50-year marriage to his wife Janice; his close relationship with their two daughters, and his relationship with his grandchildren.
Crystal has fantastic photos from all stages of his life, from childhood to the present, and he takes us on a journey that seems blessed. He takes us on a journey of lives that had symbolic connections to many different things. It is incredible to hear of his friendships with people like Mohammed Ali, Robin Williams, Rob Reiner, Norman Lear, and so many others. Crystal’s life had all the elements of a wonderful dream, until the Palisades fires. The story he tells is an uncensored view of how a single event can change a life forever and how the human spirit can rise above a calamity that irrevocably alters one’s existence.
You are in for a treat; with Crystal writing and performing this piece, it was wonderful to see the parts of his movie career that are shared. So many funny moments and, of course, since part of his act has always been impressions, we get a lot of great ones from people like Mohammed Ali.
Crystal shares with the audience all the incredible highlights and honors that his career has included. He shares with us all the memorabilia he collected throughout his life. When he speaks of his tragedy, you could clearly hear many audience members sobbing — some quietly, some uncontrollably. This play touches the heart so deeply because Crystal is wearing his heart on his sleeve and is, tremendously, sharing a message of loss that anyone can identify with.
When the play finished, he received a well-deserved standing ovation, and many people shouted their approval. While I could clap loudly, I was too choked up from what I had just experienced to open my mouth. One of the themes throughout the production is the healing power of laughter. After experiencing this powerful, vulnerable, inspiring show, you will also know that laughter can heal; it can see us through the worst times in our lives.
Go and be moved by Crystal’s funny, heart-wrenching, candid, true story. In the play, he speaks of being advised to always leave a tip, which means bringing himself and his personal life into his performances, and I must say that last night, he left us with the biggest tip I’ve ever witnessed. A tip that no matter what happens in our lives, with the grace of God, with the love and support of friends and family, we will get through it.
The production has stunning direction by Scott Ellis. Every facet of this play is magnificently executed, from the writing and performance by Crystal to the original music and adaptation by Marc Shaiman, scenic design by Scott Pask, lighting design by Jen Schriever, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, and video design by Hana S. Kim and Kylee Loera.
For tickets to “860,” visit billycrystal860.com.
