“The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse production is an unqualified hit, due largely to the performances of Ray Arrucci and Geno Carr under the enlightened direction of Ed Sayles.”
“Even with the top-notch performances from the supporting cast, and they are legion, it is Arrucci and Carr who drive the play and they have a firm grip on the wheel.”
“Carr will be familiar to MGR audiences for a variety of roles over the last few seasons, all of them memorable and his Leo Bloom is no exception. He has a tremendous gift for comedy, particularly as the straight man. Still, he gets as many laughs out of a strip of blue cloth as the rest of the cast does with Brooks' marvelous script. He can sing, dance and fall in love with the best of them and still project enormous charm and innocence.”
CNY Theatre News and Reviews
“In his casting, Sayles has struck gold as well, with the return of Geno Carr and Bethany Moore (who fell in love last season in “Thoroughly Modern Millie”) as Leo and Ulla, and
with Ray Arrucci as the irrepressible Max Bialystock.”
“Carr does his usual flawless work here, sending Leo through paroxysms of anguish and insecurity as he ventures into the world of theater. Carr has the rare ability to play comedy as both the straight man and the joker, has an enormously appealing presence and a marvelous and expressive voice.”
Auburn Citizen
“Heading a very talented cast in the two lead roles are Ray Arrucci (Max Bialystock) and Geno Carr (Leo Bloom). Both possess strong voices and the necessary undercurrents of risky bravado and reserved self-consciousness, respectively.”
Syracuse Post-Standard
“Auburn's Merry-Go-Round Playhouse trots out Ray Arrucci as producer Bialystock and Geno Carr as accountant Bloom….the duo are so endearing…Ed Sayles has chosen a cast to support Arrucci and Carr that is close to perfect, and his design team measures up to near-Broadway caliber.”
Syracuse.com
“Arrucci's Max and Carr's Leo, both full-voiced and articulate, carry the play…and work well together. Carr's big song, "I Wanna Be a Producer," is exuberantly persuasive.”
Ithaca Times
"Playing mousy and repressed usually makes it hard for an actor to shine, but Carr’s “I Wanna Be a Producer” easily outclasses what Matthew Broderick put into the poorly received 2005 film version of the stage show. "
Syracuse New Times
