Chicago Tribune


Review of “My Dinner with Amy” by Kerry Reid

The dinner engagement as an occasion of religious confrontation took the stage this past fall in Evan Smith's "The Savannah Disputation" at Writers' Theatre, where an evangelical Christian clashed with a pair of Roman Catholic sisters over supper at the siblings' home. Now local writer/director Tony Fiorentino tackles a similar notion in "My Dinner With Amy," in which he plays a lead role. Oh, and he's also producing it through his company, Diamante Productions.

One cook wearing so many toques can often be a recipe for disaster. But though this show doesn't reveal Grant Achatz-like levels of inspiration, it's a perfectly serviceable and frequently enjoyable riff on the usual opposites-attract dynamic of the romantic comedy, with the seemingly endless battle between true believers and atheists tossed in for additional flavor.

Tom (Fiorentino) is a divorced philosophy professor on a date with Amy (Star Alexis Velazquez), whom he met through an online escort service. It turns out that Amy uses the site as bait -- she is determined to convert men to her generic brand of biblical literalism and clean living. From here, you can probably put the rest together -- they start off on the wrong foot, agree to try to listen to each other despite pronounced differences, reveal painful pasts and end up falling in love, as Nathan (Phillip McFarlane), the world's most flamboyant waiter, checks in every so often with water refills and nuggets of wisdom. There's even a hat tip to the deli scene in Rob Reiner's "When Harry Met Sally."

Writer Fiorentino delivers some biting and clever one-liners. Early on, Tom declares to Amy "Religion spoils everything. Just look at Kirk Cameron's career." (The former "Growing Pains" teen heartthrob is now heavily involved in evangelical ministry.) It's a bit annoying that Amy sometimes comes off dimmer than necessary. She references Martin Luther nailing his "memo" on the church doors, and is shocked when Tom reads her the passage in Leviticus forbidding the consumption of shellfish after she has ordered shrimp scampi. But Velazquez brings an elbows-out edge to the character that keeps sanctimony at bay. Fiorentino channels some of the choleric qualities of Jason Alexander's George Costanza from "Seinfeld." He's smug without any discernable reason for being so, but also palpably afraid of his shortcomings being revealed.

It's not the most filling evening of theater around, but the comfort-food familiarity is spiced with just enough cunning to keep "My Dinner With Amy" from turning bland and tasteless.


Chicagocritic.com


Review of “My Dinner with Amy” by Tom Williams

A red flag goes up for me when I see a press release that documents one person writing, directing and staring in a production from his own theatre company. That type of show is usually a vanity project filled with low quality art. Not so here with prolific playwright/ actor Tony Fiorentino (Lease on Love, Cold Cold Feet and Fraternal Instinct). Fiorentino is a talented writer with an acute sense of comedy and a mature understanding of human nature. I enjoyed his old fashion door-slamming bedroom farce, Cold, Cold Feet and his intelligent Fraternal Instinct. This guy can write funny shows. His latest and finest work to date, My Dinner with Amy, contains enough laughs to wear you out. I have not laughed as hard at a show as I did with My Dinner with Amy. This show is hilarious!

My Dinner with Amy is a comic exploration of both Internet romance and religious fanaticism. It tells the story of Tom (Tony Fiorentino), a jaded PhD college professor and divorce decides to try his luck with online dating. When his gorgeous mystery date, Amy, (Star Alexis Velasquez) arrives at the restaurant, Tom can’t believe his luck. She is sexy. But soon Tom discovers that Amy is an Evangelical Christian using online sex sites to find souls in need of saving. Tom is a confirmed atheist. Tom quickly makes a b-line for the door. Amy pleads with him to bear her witness. Tom, ever the egotist and lover of religious debates, agrees to stay on condition that if Amy can’t convert him, she will pay the diner tab. Amy agrees and the debate is on.

 Fiorentino’s script is filled with a mixture of hilarious arguments about religion, sex, atheism and relations as Amy preaches and Tom refutes. The laughs abound with lines and retorts delivered with spot-on timing. The swishy waiter, Nathan (the hilarious Phillip McFarlane) makes well timed entrances to comment on the events and actions of the debate. Nathan produced and reinforced the comic tone of the show.

As Amy gives her testimony, Tom challenges her blind notions of faith at every turn. Seldom do you find as much humor in the faith versus atheism debate as Fiorentino offers. Velasquez and Fiorentino have terrific comedic timing and McFarlane demonstrated his outstanding comic acumen to garner many of the show’s biggest laughs. The battleground of ideology mixes with sexual innuendo that slowly unfolds as mutual attraction. This funny show is amazingly fresh, cliché free and smart. It wins our funny bone as well as our heart. We care about each of these real folks in their struggle to find a soul mate. The script has layers of humor with some truthful insights into human nature. This surly is the source of much of the humor.

If you’re looking for a comedy filled with almost none stop laughs, My Dinner with Amy is your show. It is the funniest show on any Chicago stage this year.


Epoch Times


Review of “My Dinner with Amy” by Al Bresloff

In many cases, when a play is announced with the director also being the author and the star, one would think this to be a "vanity" play- a chance for someone who has the financial ability to put something on just for his or her own vanity. This is NOT the case with "My Dinner With Amy" an hysterical 90 minutes of pure laughter currently playing at The Theatre Building on Belmont. Over the past few years, I have seen the works of Playwright Tony Fiorentino and this is by far his best work. He is truly maturing in his writing ability and as an actor/director his timing is superb. "Amy" is a satirical look at Internet dating- Tom (Fiorentino) is a divorce' who is meeting Amy ( the sensational Star Alexis Velazquez- this young lady has a great sense of timing and is adorable as well) she is an Evangelical Christian using online dating to spread the word of The Gospel to the men seeking sex via this source. Instead of bolting out of the restaurant, decides to stay, but on one condition- if they go through the entire dinner and he is not converted,

she has to pay the bill- if he is, he will gladly do so. The rest of the dinner deals with ideas, testimony, stories of their lives and a heated battle over ideology.

The ninety minutes of the "date" is a mix of ideas, religion and pure comedy as we are witness to the true battle of the sexes. Tom wants a sex partner, Amy wants to prove that her ways are right and the back and forth arguing is a stitch. To make the best in transitions, Fiorentino has a gay waiter, Nathan ( Phillip McFarlane handles this role with perfect timing and just the right touch). Each of our characters has secrets from their pasts and as the dinner is eaten each opens up to the other and we learn more about why they are where they are. We also see the changes take place in their personalities and as the time flies (and this is the quickest 90 minutes I have ever sat in a theater for) we see that perhaps there is more for each to gain from this dinner. I won't share with you the ending as I truly feel that this is one to see for yourself. Fiorentino has handled each aspect- religion, sex and love with just the right touch and we as an audience can only be delighted with the final outcome. While he has written a drama, it appears that comedy is where he should be concentrating his efforts and this play should be around for many years to come ( I can see community theaters picking this one up in years to come). All three actors have perfect comic timing and the script is paced at just the proper tone to keep the audience comfortable without an intermission. Bravo to Tony Fiorentino and his players on a brilliant production.

Steadstyle Chicago


Review of “My Dinner with Amy” by Megan Gillogly

Diamante Productions' presents "My Dinner with Amy" at the Theatre Building starring Tony Fiorentino, Star Alexis Velasquez and Philip McFarlane.  One of the stars of this play, Tony Fiorentino is also the writer/director creative force behind it as well.  "My Dinner with Amy" is a little story about a blind date with a lot of unexpected topics being addressed that at first got off to a slow start.  The cast is a small one and there is only one scene with one set during an evening among strangers that had me wondering if the show would keep my attention.  One self-proclaimed atheist, Tom (Tony Fiorentino) and another polar opposite personality/set of beliefs Amy (Star Alexis Velasquez) found themselves on a mission to disprove each others beliefs in place of an actual date.  As the story unfolded, the dialogue became witty and often funny.  As the subject matter was based around people's religious beliefs or lack thereof, there were various quotes from the Bible as well fun little historical facts about philosophers that made the content that much more intriguing.  Fiorentino's casting and direction for his fellow actors in this play were extraordinary and classically funny.  Nathan (Philip McFarlane) at first was a little overly "hammy" and flamboyant for my taste as a stereotypical homosexual man.  But halfway through the play I was laughing right along with the rest of the audience at his funny quirks and innuendos.  His character often added a break up of the monotony and tension between the couple on stage.  I applaud both the actor, McFarlane and Fiorentino's writing creativity and ability to keep the audience engaged.  Velasquez's Amy was beautiful and believable as her motivations for why she was trying to "convert" Tom were clear and apparent.  She offered fresh takes on what could be "yawn-worthy" material in the hands of an inexperienced actress.  I ended up enjoying this story and would recommend it to adults of all beliefs and backgrounds for something new and different. "My Dinner with Amy" is about 90 minutes in length with no intermission.  It is playing through March 23, 2008 at the Theatre Building at 1225 WE. Belmont Ave. and tickets are $25.  For details to purchase tickets and performance times call the Theatre Building's box office at 773-327-5252.


Chicago Pride


Review of “My Dinner With Amy” by Michael J. Roberts

I wonder when Al Gore invented the Internet if he imagined it would explode into the spot where singles try their hand at long time romance. I also wonder how many of the same conversations are occurring during the same space in time that Tom and Amy are arguing about condoms and Jesus. Even if there are concurrent conversations, none are as funny, truthful and relevant as the conversation in Tony Fiorentino's brilliant romantic comedy My Dinner With Amy which opened Sunday at the Theatre Building.

Just writing a synopsis of the plot makes one chuckle. Tom sets up a date through quite the naughty named website; Tom shows up at the restaurant to meet the date; The date (Amy) is drop dead gorgeous: They sit down; Amy whips out a Bible and tries to convert Tom who is an agnostic. Plug into this formula a waiter who makes Paul Lynde look butch and you have one of the best 90 minutes you can possibly spend in a theatre.

My Dinner With Amy explores not only the obvious differences between the characters, but Fiorentino delves into both the characters psyche showing the audience the journey both characters took in life to get where they are now, alone and looking for saving. That is what makes the piece very poignant. As the layers are peeled away from each of the characters, the audience gets to put a mirror up to itself as there is a piece of Tom and Amy that exist in all of us.

Tony Fiorentino (Lease On Love, Cold, Cold Feet and Fraternal Instint) is becoming one of Chicago's most prolific writers, equaling that of Adam Rapp. Not only is Fiorentino's writing near perfection in this piece, but so is his casting and direction. First, he cast himself as Tony. Most actor/director/writers can't pull this off, but because Fiorentino knows what he wants to convey from his own material he easily makes that translate to the crowd with great rewards. No doubt part of Tony's decision in casting himself was to play opposite the gorgeous Star Alexis Valezques as Amy. Her comic timing is perfect and her facial expressions are priceless. Ms. Valezques could make anyone fall in love with Amy before the main course. Add in the mix Phillip MacFarlane's waiter who ends up playing part time psychologist to the diners and you have the perfect cast of Three's Company since the 1970's.


Streetwise


Review of "My Dinner with Amy" by Richard Eisenhardt

If you are looking for a fun and entertaining evening of theatre, don't miss Diamante Productions' "My Dinner With Amy".  I have seen all four of their productions and they get better all the time.  It takes Talent with a capital "T" to be the playwright, director and an actor in a production, and Tony Fiorentino has done it with "My Dinner With Amy".  Mr. Fiorentino has also written "Lease on Love," "Cold, Cold Feet" and "Fraternal Instinct," in addition to his current show.  Tony said that two of the current cultural phenomena that fascinate him are Internet romance and religious extremism, and he is exploring the parallels between them from a comedic angle.

The show deals with an arrogant professor who we find is a divorced man looking for sex on a blind date with a born-again Christian.  The three-character play has Star Alexis Velasquez as Amy, Fiorentino as Tom, and Phillip McFarlane as Nathan, the gay swishing waiter who will have you rolling with laughter.  Tom and Amy argue over appetizers, dinner and dessert during the 90 minutes.  We find over Casar salad that Amy is a fundamentalist Evangelical. 

The show offers one-liners to perfection.  We find that Amy is using online dating as a Christian to spread the Gospel.  Tom makes several B-lines for the door but ends up staying over the shrimp scampi and his prime rib ends over the chocolate mousse.  You'll have to see the show to find out if the two end up in bed together.


Chicagocritic.com


Review of “Fraternal Instinct” by Tom Williams

Tony Fiorentino, whose fine farce, Cold Cold Feet, got my attention a year or so ago delivers a nicely written drama, Fraternal Instinct, that gives a fresh look at family dynamics when one brother holds the other responsible for an accident. Joel Travis (Andrew Pond), a struggling actor, becomes a paraplegic from the waist down as a result of an auto accident that had his brother Carter (Rawson Vint) driving. The play opens with Carter and Joel working on a play that Carter promised to write to help Joel return to the stage. The opening scenes set the tone of the play as we see that Joel is never satisfied with Carter’s writing. Joel emerges as an obnoxious nasty person whose relentless demands and insults render Carter to be the all-time wimp brother. Eventually we meet Vicki (Christine Cummings), Joel’s patient and loving fiancée with whom Joel pushed away despite Vicki’s sincere efforts.

Playwright Tony Fiorentino has penned a tight script that director Brandy Austin has paced to build into an engaging mystery as we keep wondering what will happen next as Joel’s painful relationship leads to a climatic conclusion. This psychologically complex story features realistic, fully developed characters dealing with fraternal duty, guilt, forgiveness and redemption. Fraternal Instinct demonstrates how revenge can consume one into a drowning straggle that leads to ultimate self destructive behavior. With excellent turns for all, especially Andrew Pond and Rawson Vint, this poignant drama is insightful and moving. Nice work form the talented new voice—Tony Fiorentino. Catch this riveting play.

The Beverly Review


Review of “Cold Cold Feet” by Kathleen Tobin

Chicago is just bursting with young new talent in the acting field. There are almost 200 theaters in the Chicago area, many of them small, fledgling troupes working in small venues, but often well worth the time to check out the talent.

Diamante Productions, based in Glenview, and dedicated to producing new and original works, mounted its first production just one year ago.

This summer’s comedy, “Cold Cold Feet,” written by Tony Fiorentino, is currently playing at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., through Aug. 13.

The author has a very valid premise: the jitters a bride-groom experiences of the eve of his wedding. It fits material for a riotous comedy and is executed, in this production, by a young cast with fantastic comic flair.

The story revolves around Benny (Jayce Ryan), a Catholic-educated , skirt-chasing groom who has kept a diary of his conquests since elementary school. On the eve of his wedding, as the rehearsal is about to begin, he confides in his big brother/best man, Carl (the wondrous Andrew Pond), that he still needs time to sow some oats before settling down and wants Carl to tell the bride he wants to postpone the wedding.

Then the play’s reality check starts to fizzle. Two strippers who were hired to perform at last night’s bachelor party show up a day late. Benny drools at the thought of some unexpected titillating fun and insists they do their act.

This forces Carl, hoping to save the marriage, to invent all sorts of excuses to keep this information from the groom’s mother (Kate Harris), his sister (Brianna Mann), the bride (Erica Bethe) and the parish priest, Father Murphy (Mike O’Brien), who all subsequently visit Benny’s hotel room.

And, believe it or not, the bride forgives this oversexed goon and agrees to go through with the marriage!

Chicago Reader


Review of “Cold Cold Feet” by Jenn Goddu

There’s slapstick in Tony Fiorentino’s farce about a groom getting cold feet, but most of the comedy stems from escalating misunderstandings and absurd lies, including the groom’s attempts to hide some strippers from sister, mom, priest, and fiancée. The script’s tight and based on honest observations, but some of the cast members are shrill, and June Eubanks’s staging is occasionally pointless. But Andrew Pond gives the show momentum as the best man who’s desperately trying to cover for his brother’s last-minute doubts, Kate Harris is fun as the groom’s mother, and Erica Bethe earns the happy ending as the feisty bride to be.

Streetwise


Review of “Cold Cold Feet” by Richard Eisenhardt

Diamante Productions is a brand new theatre company that is opening its second production of the season with “Cold Cold Feet” at the Theatre Building. It has been written by the theatre company’s artistic director and actor, Tony Fiorentino.

“Feet” is a new romantic farce about a nervous groom on the evening of his wedding day. The show is hilarious and June Eubanks has directed this madcap affair.

Fiorentino and Eubanks have assembled an excellent non-equity cast with Jayce Ryan as Benny, the groom; Andrew Pond as Carl, the groom’s brother and best man; Christine Cummings as June and Jacqueline Zook as Simone, the two strippers who show up a day late and who the best owes $400 as they were to entertain at the groom’s bachelor party. Brianna Mann is Mary Bolano, the sister of the groom and his brother, Kate Harris is Wanda, the mother of the brothers and their sister, Mike O’Brien is Father Murphy, the priest who is to marry the couple if they are ever able to get their act together, and finally Erica Bethe is Lindsay, the bride-to-be.

Normally it is the bride-to-be who has cold feet but in this case it turns out to be the groom. The fun begins with Carl trying to convince his brother Benny to put on his pants and go downstairs to the church for the rehearsal.

The play runs 90 minutes without intermission and Benny runs around the hotel room in his boxer shorts for a good part of the show. It even becomes more fun when the strippers arrive a day late and want their $400 which Carl has gambled away. They have brought a bodyguard with them to help collect the money but we never see him surface throughout the show. The sister arrives to complicate the situation then the mother and later the priest.

Everything comes to a happy ending but you’ll roll with laughter and its fun summer fare. The talented playwright has crammed so much into the 90 minutes running time.

Daily Southtown

Review of “Cold Cold Feet” by Betty Mohr

Does he tell his intended that he can't go through with the wedding? Of course not. If he did so, it would break her heart, and besides, if he did, there wouldn't be any loony shenanigans to laugh at in "Cold, Cold Feet."

Cleverly written by Tony Fiorentino, this world-premiere production at Chicago's Theatre Building has characters who can't resist piling lies upon lies. What else can these characters do when Benny decides to spend time with a couple of hookers and begs his brother Carl (Andrew Pond in a stand-out performance) to help him call off the wedding?

In his attempt to save Benny's upcoming marriage, though, Carl makes some desperate moves. While Benny is fooling around with the hookers (Christine Cummings and Jacquelyn Zook) in his hotel room, Carl comes up with some riotous excuses for Benny's disappearance.

And, like a house of cards, the lies spiral out of control to hilarious lengths. And, as in most farces, there are a lot of mistaken identities, people coming and going, doors slamming and everyone in wild abandon.

The mix of characters keeps the humor flowing. Besides the groom, his brother and two prostitutes, we have Wanda (Kate Harris), a distraught mother who believes the unbelievable; Father Murphy (Mike O'Brien), a priest who seems too relaxed about sin to be a man of the cloth; Mary (Brianna Mann), a troublesome sister; and Lindsay (Erica Bethe), a very aggravated bride.

This type of comic craziness is not always easy to pull off. Farce is the most difficult type of comedy because it's so over the top that it requires an incredible suspension of disbelief from its audience. To pull that off, the director and performers have to have perfect timing.

Fortunately for "Cold, Cold Feet," June Eubanks stages all the nutty characters in perfect sync, and the entire ensemble keeps us riveted with breathless confusion.

This cute, lighthearted and lightweight romantic farce is tailor-made for a summer date and for those who enjoy easy sitcom laughs.

Chicagocritic.com


Review of “Cold Cold Feet” by Tom Williams

Diamante Productions, in their second offering, has mounted a fresh, funny and classic structured farce. Cold Cold Feet is a new comedy (a world premiere) that instantly captures us and swiftly carries us through the convoluted world where the nervous groom, Benny (played empathetically by the talented Jayce Ryan) is in Vegas on the eve of his wedding when he gets a case of cold feet. He enlists his brother, Carl (the funny, energetic Andrew Pond) to help him call off the wedding. Carl refuses and fights Benny’s case of nerves.

With the wedding party waiting for Benny and Carl at the church for the wedding rehearsal, Carl refuses to call off the wedding and he chides Benny to get to the rehearsal. Before long, two hookers June & Simone (Christine Cummings & Jacquelyn Zook) who are a day late for the bachelor party arrive just before members of Benny’s family arrive to fetch the very late Benny to the church. Now the fun begins as Carl, in a desperate attempt to save his brother’s marriage, concocts a series of excuses to account for the groom’s mysterious delay.

The series of improbable situations, a key element of farce, are nicely laid out by the terrific ground work in the early scenes between Jayce Ryan’s Benny and Andrew Pond’s Carl. These two must engage us and get us to care what happens if the farce is to be funny. These two deliver as we like these two guys.

When the hotel room is invaded by the meddling mother (Kate Harris), a nagging sister (Brianna Mann), the parish priest (Mike O’Brien), and an irate bride-to-be (Erica Bethe), Carl orchestras the mayhem with manic energy, quick wit in a full whirlwind, door slamming comedy that is quickly becomes hoot!

Cold Cold Feet is a zesty, well-written and smoothly mounted farce that contains many belly laughs. The show will keep you guessing how Carl and Benny will get out of their crazy situations that only seem to get worse. Doors slam, wordplay and double meanings and misunderstandings abound throughout this light-weight comedy. The crazy think about this show is that it could actually happen!

Jayce Ryan and Andrew Pond are marvelous in setting up, then delivering Tony Fiorentino’s worthy script. The chaos here adds up to a good time. This sleeper show is the comedy hit of the summer. Go see it, you’ll have fun.

Streetwise

Review of “Lease on Love” by Richard Eisenhardt

The Theatre Building on Belmont Avenue houses three small separate theatre. Diamante Productions is a new not-for-profit theatre company that was founded in August of 2005. Its goal is to produce comedies to entertain their audiences and “Lease on Love” is just what the doctor ordered.

How would you respond if you saw an ad in the papers that read “Seeking roommate to fill two bedroom apartment and the void in a life of utter solitude and hopeless disillusionment. Long-term lease only. Great location and free parking. Call now.”

Lead character Tom Owen, a high school English teacher in his late 20’s has run this ad in the newspaper. He originally had been eagerly anticipating his girlfriend Tracy would be moving into his apartment with the departure of his roommate and best buddy, Berry, who moved out to live with his girlfriend, April, leaving Tom with the urgency of getting a new male roommate to split the expenses.

The problem seems solved when one Chris Lyons who is also in dire need of a roommate is the only one to answer Tom’s ad and is taken on by both sight unseen. When Chris shows up it turns out that Chris is a woman and not a man, who is nursing her own broken heart.

After a rocky adjustment it appears that love just may prevail only to find out that their exes aren’t done with them yet. All this makes for one funny romantic comedy that is loaded with laughs.

Jeannie Giannone is Chris, Jessica Granger is April, Andrew Pond is Berry, and Matt Love is Julius with Tony Fiorentino as Tom. The show is directed by Chris Arnold.

For more information, contact us at info@diamanteproductions.com