There are two compelling reasons to take a trip to the Plaza Theatre at Boston Center for the Arts to see the current Moonbox Productions' presentation of "Amadeus" by the recently deceased Peter Shaffer. The first is the timeless writing of Peter Shaffer, whose insights into the human condition are both broad and deep. The second reason is to breathe in the extraordinary artistry of Matthew Zahnzinger in the pivotal role of Antonio Salieri, rival and bête noire to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In the opening scene, we behold Salieri confined to a wheelchair and wheezing out barely discernible phrases about Mozart, who had died 32 years earlier. Did he kill Mozart? That is the overarching question of the play. Salieri, recognizing the superior genius of Mozart's music over his own pedestrian compositions, cries out to God and eventually challenges God to strike him down as he plots to destroy the naive Mozart. The young composer sees Salieri as a friend and protector. Mr. Zahnzinger takes his Salieri through an impressive arc from piety to impiety, from rage to resignation.
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| Matthew Zahnzinger as Salieri "Amadeus" by Peter Shaffer Moonbox Productions Plaza Theatre at the BCA Through December 17th Photo by Earl Christie |
Mr. Shaffer uses the rivalry between Salieri and Mozart to examine the nature of musical genius, the irony of God's bestowing greatness on an apparently unworthy recipient, and the tragedy of God seeming to turn His back on one who had vowed to serve him through music.
This production is Directed by Allison Olivia Choat, with Music Direction by Dan Rodriguez, Set by Cameron McEachern, Lighting by Jeffrey Salzberg, Sound by David Wilson, Costumes by David Lucy and Wigs by Peter Mill.
- Cody Sloan plays young Mozart as the petulant manchild that Shaffer envisioned, uttering profanities with his potty mouth while producing divine sounds with his fingers - on the manuscript pages and on the keyboard.
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Matthew Zahnzinger as Salieri
Cody Sloan as Mozart
"Amadeus" by Peter Shaffer
Moonbox Productions
Plaza Theatre at the BCA
Through December 17th
Photo by Earl Christie
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- Caroline Keeler is Mozart's wife, Constanze. Her character initially plays along with Amadeus' childish pranks and buffoonery, but soon suffers from her husband's lack of practical sense or social grace.
- Sarah Leary and Nick Osborne are excellent as Venticellia and Venticello, providing a constant presence as spies for Salieri and as commentators on the action taking place on and off the stage.
- Other cast members include Matt Arnold as Salieri's valet, Callin Doran as Salieri's cook, Adam Manacher as Leopold Mozart and others, J. Deschene as Teresa Salieri, Katie O'Reilly as Katherina Cavalieri, Arthur Gomez as Count Orsini-Rosenberg, Ray O'Hare as Emperor Joseph II, Ed Peed as Count von Strack, and Andrew Winson as Baron van Sweiten.
"Amadeus" will be performed through December 17th.
Enjoy!
Al
Produced by Sharman Altshuler and directed by Allison Olivia Choat, Amadeus is an extraordinary meditation on art, love and the human condition. The year is 1781, and the place is Vienna. Joseph II is Emperor of Austria, and Vienna's world of music is ruled by the precise and pedantic composer Antonio Salieri. Then the famous Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arrives, throwing Salieri's predictable court life into chaos. At first, Mozart's genius fills Salieri with awe, but that awe quickly turns to a poisonous jealousy. Salieri must decide how far he will go to protect the world he has created, and to destroy the man who is a constant reminder of the artist he will never be.
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