REVIEW: The Notebook

Last night’s opening of The Notebook at the Ordway in St. Paul was a moving and elegant debut that left some of us trying not to ugly cry. BRING KLEENEX. From the first moments, the show balanced the sweep of a grand love story with a quiet intimacy and the true struggles of aging and dementia.

The juxtaposition of new love and the lifelong loyalty between Allie and Noah was shown through three couples. The older versions of Allie and Noah—played by Sharon Catherine Brown and Beau Gravitte—delivered some of the evening’s most affecting moments, their performances brimming with memory, longing, and devotion. Seriously, bring kleenex. In contrast, Alysha Deslorieux and Ken Wulf Clark, as the middle-aged Allie and Noah, struck a balance of vulnerability and strength, especially in the scenes where their love is tested by time and circumstance. The youngest duo, Chloë Cheers and Kyle Mangold, brought buoyant, hopeful energy to their portrayals of first love.

Warning: they get close to actually portraying their “first love”…folks in their undergarments and lots of kissing and innuendos. The show notes say it is for kids 10+, I might say 12 or 13?

Other favorites of the night were the humor brought by the young Physical Therapist, played by Connor Richardson, the iconic scene in the rain – done masterfully and magically on stage, and the haunting harmonies of the final number.

Perhaps one of the most memorable moments came after the final bow: Nicholas Sparks himself, joined by producer Kevin McCollum, stepped onstage to address the crowd, rounding out the night with warmth and gratitude. It felt less like a theatrical opening and more like a shared celebration. All told, the show was a success — a tender, beautifully rendered affirmation of enduring love.

The Notebook is at the Ordway through November 30, 2025.

Review by Tracy Whitney; photo by Roger Mastroianni