You'll fall in love with 'The Last Romance'

It's been said that love happens when you least expect it. And in "The Last Romance," playing at the Florida Repertory Theatre, that's exactly what happens to Ralph Bellini and Carol Reynolds.

The two meet in their golden years. He's 80, she admits to being "beyond 70."

They prove the adage that opposites attract. He's working-class and a regular kidder, she's well-off and somewhat subdued.

They meet in a dog park in New Jersey.

Joe DiPietro, who wrote "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," as well as Florida Rep's most recent production, the comic thriller "The Art of Murder," is the playwright.

In lesser hands, this material could be TV sit-com fodder, too cute for words.

But Mr. DiPietro's writing has depth, and this production's very able actors prevent their characters from becoming caricatures. Soon after meeting them, they become people we care about very much.

Ralph (David S. Howard) fancies himself a lady's man. He's Italian, with a wide romantic streak, but obviously out of practice.

It's amazing that he actually gets a date with Carol, because he's so rusty at the game. He flirts with all the fumbling charm of Lt. Columbo.

David S. Howard and Sara Morsey in Joe DiPietro's "The Last Romance," on stage at the Florida Repertory Theatre. For example, he tells her that her dog "looks like a rat that can bark." And his idea of a compliment is to tell her, "Don't worry, you're not too old."

She initially finds him off-putting, but is eventually charmed by this bluntspeaking jokester.

Carol (Sara Morsey) cuts such an elegant, sophisticated figure she draws ahhs and murmurs when she first steps on stage. This is, in part, thanks to costume designer Roberta Malcolm, who's dressed her in a smart two-piece suit, gloves, pearls, and a pillbox hat. The look is classic, not dated. As is the character herself.

No wonder Ralph wants to woo her. He may be 80, but he's still frisky.

There are complications.

It's a love story. Aren't there always?

We won't give away the plot, but suffice it to say that one of those complications is Ralph's older sister, Rose (Carrie Lund), who moved in with her brother after his wife died. She cooks and washes for him.

Ms. Lund, who took over the role less than a week before opening night, does an admirable job, displaying once again her comedic skills. Dressed in a housecoat and sweater, stockings rolled about her ankles, she shuffles on stage, anxiously clutching her pocketbook. She's the antithesis of Carol.

And she had the audience howling with laughter, just by saying "Shut up!"

You can see some of the plot twists coming, but Mr. DiPietro throws in some surprises.

Jason Parish plays "The Young Man," who perhaps is a young Ralph, or maybe the pure essence of Ralph, as he sees himself and feels inside.

When Mr. Parish firsts steps on stage, it's as if a portrait from the 1940s has come to life, wool suit, dapper bow tie and all. Because Ralph is an opera enthusiast who once auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera, it falls on Parish to sing a number of arias, which he does with great zeal.

He also acts as a transition between scenes, moving the play's minimal props, helping Ralph on with a suit jacket.

But it's Ralph and Carol's show, as the two let down their defenses and fall for each other. Mr. Howard manages to make his character loveable, despite his ham-fisted attempts at flirting, and Ms. Morsey's Carol is engaging, despite her initial coolness.

As an audience, we root for these two.

Richard Crowell's set is cartoon-like, with the exception of the opening set — a series of panels and sliding screens that look like Tiffany stained glass. Sound designer Marc Hurst adds

ambience with city noises: cars passing, sirens in the distance, dogs barking.

And Florida Rep producing artistic director Robert Cacioppo has overseen all this with a sure hand but light touch. This play is light as a souffle, but very nourishing.

It slyly champions the value of continually stretching ourselves, of discovering new things, no matter what our age. (Ralph discovers the dog park — and Carol — because one day he takes his daily walk at a different time of day, and decides to take a different route.)

"The Last Romance" provides many good, solid belly laughs, but also many touching moments.

Writers for stage and film love to depict young love. It's not as common to see serious portrayals of middle-aged people falling in love, and even more rare to see seniors.

But Mr. DiPietro has ventured into territory that many Southwest Floridians know firsthand.

This entertaining Florida Rep production is only the play's second production; Mr. DiPietro is taking it to New York City next, Mr. Cacioppo announced.

"The Last Romance" unabashedly urges us to appreciate our time, to not fritter our days away. After all, none of us know how much time we have on this earth.

As Ralph says, "You think you have all the time in the world, and before you know it, your time is up."'

He also states, at another point: "You live long enough, you get used to anything."

Unending loneliness shouldn't be one of them.

If you go

>>What: "The Last Romance" >>Where: Florida Repertory Theatre, 2267 Bay Street, in the Arcade Theatre in downtown Fort Myers, on Bay Street between Hendry and Jackson >>When: through May 17 >>Cost: $20, $35, $39 >>Info: Call 332-4488 or (877) 787-8053 or go to www.FloridaRep.org.