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Hersey Felder’s "Monsieur Chopin – A Play with Music!" - Review by Carol Moore

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Sun, 04/21/2024 - 9:55pm by laughingcat

**** Highly Recommended   Don’t miss Hersey Felder’s Monsieur Chopin – A Play with Music!  As we’ve come to expect from the longtime Chicago favorite, Felder gives a tour de force performance.  In developing his biographical scripts, Felder does extensive research.  The resulting performances show meticulous attention to detail.  Combining acting with concert-level piano performance, Hersey Felder literally became Fryderyk Chopin.  It was a cozy and intimate picture of a very talented, complicated man.  4 Spotlights 

Monsieur Chopin – A Play with Music is not a musical, although it is a play about a musician/composer.  It’s not a concert, although the musical elements certainly make it feel like a concert.  It is ninety enthralling minutes of music – and musing – which I found incredibly moving.  

This is Hersey Felder’s first appearance in the intimate Nichols Theatre at Writers, an ideal venue for his one-man shows.  I’m hoping he’ll land at Writers again.  Monsieur Chopin is directed by Joel Zwick.  By the way, in addition to writing the book and performing, Felder also designed the set, an apartment in Paris. 

Just days after the 1848 revolution in France (end of the Orléanist rule, beginning of the Second Republic), Monsieur Chopin invites his students (the audience) into his salon for a piano lesson.  During the lesson, he shares anecdotes about his childhood in Poland, his family and his sadness over the death of his little sister.  Between stories, he played many of his compositions, beginning with Marche Funèbre (Funeral March), a piece almost everyone will recognize. 

As the lesson progressed, Chopin shared more stories about his life, interspersed with tips about the piano, playing several mazurkas and a polonaise or two.  His music is lush, romantic and danceable.  I really felt as though I were at a concert somewhere! 

At two different points, Felder stopped the program to ask for questions from the audience (after announcing there were no questions planted in the audience), which he answered as Monsieur Chopin.  Absolutely amazing! 

Monsieur Chopin – A Play with Music runs through May 12th in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe.  Free parking is available in the Metra lot across Green Bay Road.  Running time is 95 minutes, no intermission.  Performances are Wednesdays at 3:00 (April 17th & May 1st only) & 7:30 pm; Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 3:00 & 7:30 pm; Sundays at 2:00 & 6:00 pm (except April 21st & May 5th).  Tickets range from $35-$90.  FYI (847) 242-6000 or www.writerstheatre.org.

Reviews by Carol Moore
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