Under the glow of a cardboard moon, the players of ISU Theatre took the stage this weekend to perform “The Fantasticks” and by most accounts, it was a treat. “The Fantasticks” is a truly old school musical about youthful love, over-the-top theatrics and growing up wise. It is the story of Matt and Luisa, a young couple whose forbidden love is not-so forbidden after all. The mothers of the two have concocted a feud to guarantee the two youths will fall in love and marry. This scheme includes staging an abduction of Luisa for Matt to foil. When the two find out they’ve been duped, they quickly begin to see the faults of the others. The Fisher Theater production of “The Fantasticks” was simple and enjoyable. There is something special about student productions because they are often bare bones; they make the most of what they have for sets and costumes to accentuate the performance. Luke Stoffel’s scenery was magical and breathtaking. Watching this musical, it was hard to believe most of the set was just wood and paint with some glitter sprinkled about. Stoffel must have an army of fairies at his command who come in at night when the theater is dark to help him out. One would hate to see what he could do with foamcore. The actors were on the ball as well. Sean Kehoe’s El Gallo was masterful and charming without mugging all over the stage like some pitiful ham. Melissa Larsen was sweet, innocent and nutty as Luisa. She conveyed the youthful obsession with the self well and has a beautiful singing voice. Ryan Walrod played the geeky Matt well. He seems like a raw talent with a good deal of potential. Nicholas Anstey and Matt Martin were a hilarious high note to the show as Henry and Mortimer, the two actors brought in by El Gallo to help stage Luisa’s abduction. The two were larger than life and their stereotypical thespian characters left the audience wanting more and gleeful at their reappearance in the second act. Anstey has a great voice and Martin’s slapstick antics had the audience rolling. Miranda Squires and Barbara Wiedman played Hucklebee and Bellomy, the mothers of the two lovestruck youths. The two ladies sang beautifully together and could have only improved their performance had there been more of it. Not enough can be said about Matt Kawa and Nadege Souvenir Anderson who played the mutes. Their movements were subtle and graceful due in no small part to the choreography. The production was a success that left many patrons buzzing afterwards about how good it was and how they would certainly come back for more. This should bode well for the season at Fisher.