**** Highly Recommended Steppenwolf Theatre’s production of Peter Shaffer’s 1979 play, Amadeus, is just about perfect. Of course, I thought that about the 1984 movie starring F. Murray Abraham, too. No kidding, when I took my family to see that film, we all thought it was wonderful. In fact, my then seven-year-old son fell in love with Mozart’s music, which turned out to be a life-long love. Steppenwolf’s production of this masterpiece of clashing personalities and court intrigue is magnificent. Kudos to Director Robert Falls in his Steppenwolf debut. 4 BIG Spotlights
When I recommended Amadeus to a friend, she mentioned that the music was recorded. My answer to that comment was to say that Amadeus is not a musical, it is a play about two composers – Salieri (Ian Barford), the Austrian court composer (a legend in his own mind) and Mozart (David Darrow), the awkward young and frustratingly brilliant upstart. Of course there’s music, but it punctuates rather than dominating this intensely personal story about a composer consumed with jealousy.
Ensemble member Ian Barford in Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s production of Amadeus. Photo by Michael Brosilow
It is only as he is alone and dying that Salieri can admit to himself what’s he’s done. He wonders how the boy who promised God to live a perfect life harming no one if he could only be a composer came to this.
Salieri has accomplished his goals. Joseph II (Gregory Linington) has appointed him Court Composer, he has pupils (meaning regular income) of whom the most promising is Katherina Cavalieri (Erica Stephan). He regularly associates with aristocrats like Count Franz Orsini-Rosenberg (John Lister), Count Johann Kilian von Strack (Joey Slotnick) and Baron Gottfried van Swieten (Yasen Peyankov through Dec. 21, Cliff Chamberlain Jan. 2 through 25) and their ladies. He has a confidante in Giuseppe Bonno (Robert Breuler) and he has his minions, Venticello 1 (Ora Jones) and Venticello 2 (Sawyer Smith), to keep him up with all the court gossip.
The Cast of Steppenwolf Theatre's Production of Amadeus. Photo by Michael Brosilow
His life is exactly as he wants it to be until former child prodigy and wild child Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arrives in Vienna. At first he considers Mozart just an annoyance, until he hears his music. It is then he realizes just what kind of competition he might be facing.
Soon after Mozart married, his wife, Constanze Weber (Jaye Ladymore) called on Salieri to ask for his help in finding pupils for her husband. She even brought a portfolio of Mozart’s compositions for Salieri to look over. Salieri’s behavior was atrocious and eventually she slapped him and left in high dudgeon.
(left to right) Joey Slotnick, Gregory Linington and John Lister in Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s production of Amadeus. Photo by Michael Brosilow
Meanwhile, Mozart composed an outstanding and well-received opera, even though the emperor thought it had “too many notes.” Soon after Salieri began an effort to undermine Mozart, starting with the Emperor and the Court. Eventually, Constanze left him and Mozart was reduced to one unheated room where he was ill and terrified of a hooded man who demanded a Requiem Mass. After Mozart died, he was buried in a mass grave with at least ten others. Salieri went on to be even more successful at court, but the guilt lived on.
The Amadeus ensemble includes Andrés Enriquez, Jodi Gage, Michael Kingston, Aaron Kirby, Greg Komorowski, Matt Miles and Aja Singletary.
(left to right) David Darrow and ensemble member Ian Barford in Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s production of Amadeus. Photo by Michael Brosilow
Amadeus has been extended to January 25th in Steppenwolf’s Ensemble Theater, 1646 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Self-parking is available in the Steppenwolf Garage, accessible parking in the lot north of Front Bar. Valet parking is also available.
Running time is approximately 95 minutes, no intermission. Performances are Tuesdays through Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 3:00 & 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3:00 pm. Additional performances: Sunday, December 21 at 7:30 pm; Wednesday, November 26 & Wednesday, December 10 at 2:00 pm.
(left to right) Jaye Ladymore and David Darrow in Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s production of Amadeus. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
Please note: there will not be 7:30 pm performances on Tuesday, November 25, Wednesday, November 26, Thursday, November 27; Tuesday, December 23, Wednesday, December 24, Thursday, December 25, Friday, December 26, Saturday, December 27; Tuesday, December 30; Wednesday, December 31 and Thursday, January 1; there will not be 3 pm performances on Saturday, December 27 and Sunday, December 28.
Tickets range from $20 – $143.50. FYI (312) 335-1650 or www.steppenwolf.org.