Larry Garner (Salieri) and Kevin DuVall (Mozart)
in 'Amadeus' at Village Players.
Photo by DavidTurnerPhoto.com

Village Players Performing Arts Center presents

Amadeus

by Peter Shaffer

review by Ed Vincent

A tremendous tour de force of a great tale, though salted with its share of fiction perhaps greater than the historical fiction concerned only with dialogue. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
was a child prodigy and as it turns out from numerous
letters and writings a bit of a boorish twit in personal affairs.
Mozart's own amenities though only remind us of his human
frailties and perhaps make his works of musical genius that
much more of contrast and prize for our hearts and ears.

Larry Garner as Salieri is amazing in his depiction of the most
maligned character in this fictional drama. His irony, pathos,
and talent are all brought front and center with emotive strength and vigor. Kevin Duvall, as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is fun, engaging, and charming in his reflection of the
vulgar cloaked youth in the realm of a gifted genius. Duvall's
bringing the youthful composer to life as a talented boastful
young man is a treat. John Rushing as Joseph II makes
great fun of the banal existence of the Austrian ruler. John Rushing gives us a shallow, humor filled dupe controlled by
the evil Salieri.

Great portrayals by all of a well rounded cast bringing to the
stage a short life filled with emotions and fetish. It was a
wonderful film, a great script, and grand bit of art by the
Village Players.

CAST

Larry Garner as Salieri
Kevin Duvall as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Elaine Ivy Harris as Constanze Weber
John Rushing as Joseph II—Emperor of Austria
Robert Dean as Count Johann Kilian Von Strack
David Schaplowsky as Count Franz Orsini-Rosenberg
James Leonard as Baron Gottfried Van Swieten
Cassandra Cushman as Katherina Cavalieri
Lynn Griebahn as Majordomo & Kappelmeister Bonno Garland Jones (Chicago) as Salieri's Valet (all from Chicago)
Nathan Sanders (Lisle) and Michael John Krystosek
as the Venticelli
Lisa Kramer (Oak Park) as Salieri's Pastry Cook
Sally Kapela (Naperville) as Teresa Salieri

Production Staff

Stage Manager Michelle Springer
Assistant Director John Rushing
Assistant Stage Manager Breanna Smith-Sneed
Set Designer/Builder Rick Sandoval
Lighting Designer Andrew Glasenhardt
Costume Designer Gintare Jaloveckaite
Sound Designer John List
Props Designer Barbara Andrew
Production Assistant Sarah Long

Amadeus

Oak Park, Il— Continuing Village Players' mainstage 'Season of Music' is the classic play Amadeus, running February 14 – March 15, 2009.

In this Tony Award winner for Best Play, humor, romance, and revenge are combined into one riveting evening. Titled after the famous composer's pen name, Amadeus follows rival composer Antonio Salieri as he continually tries to undermine Mozart's success. Will Salieri be able to stop him or will Mozart emerge more renowned than ever? Peter Shaffer (author of Equus) has written a rich, exuberant portrayal of a God-like man among mortals, and lives destroyed by envy.

"Is there such a thing as 'God given talent'?," asks director Doug Long, who has directed extensively as Village Players, throughout Chicago, and teaches at both DePaul University & Victory Gardens. "In the arts, training and discipline are crucial, but so is talent, and it can't be taught, learned, or bargained for. In the play, Salieri is a successful court composer who aches for the kind of talent he sees in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He views Mozart as a profane and unworthy vessel for God's gifts. Both men are technically proficient, hard-working composers and musicians, but Salieri cannot find the elusive element to make his mediocre music have some of Mozart's beauty, passion, or inspiration."

Appearing as Salieri is veteran actor Larry Garner of Chicago. He has performed with Collaboraction, Seanachai, Pegasus, Eclipse, Journeymen, and understudied at Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens and Court Theatre. Recent credits include the Interpreter in Un Robot for Collaboraction, for which he shared an After Dark Award for Best Ensemble. A multilingual actor who has lived in Italy and France, Garner is also serving as Dialect Coach for the production.

The rest of the cast includes Kevin Duvall as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Elaine Ivy Harris as Constanze Weber, John Rushing as Joseph II—Emperor of Austria, Robert Dean as Count Johann Kilian Von Strack, David Schaplowsky as Count Franz Orsini-Rosenberg, James Leonard as Baron Gottfried Van Swieten, Cassandra Cushman as Katherina Cavalieri, Lynn Griebahn as Majordomo and Kappelmeister Bonno, Garland Jones (Chicago) as Salieri's Valet (all from Chicago), Nathan Sanders (Lisle) and Michael John Krystosek as the Venticelli, Lisa Kramer (Oak Park) as Salieri's Pastry Cook, and Sally Kapela (Naperville) as Teresa Salieri.

The rest of the Production Staff includes Stage Manager Michelle Springer, Assistant Director John Rushing, Assistant Stage Manager Breanna Smith-Sneed, Set Designer/Builder Rick Sandoval, Lighting Designer Andrew Glasenhardt, Costume Designer Gintare Jaloveckaite, Sound Designer John List, Props Designer Barbara Andrews, and Production Assistant Sarah Long.

Amadeus performs February 14 – March 15, 2009. Fridays & Saturdays are at 8 PM and Sundays are at 3 PM. Tickets are $25 for Adults, and $20 for Students & Seniors. There are specially priced preview tickets on Valentine's Day for $15.

Presented in the Mainstage Theater of the Village Players Performing Arts Center located at 1010 Madison St., Oak Park. Plenty of parking is available on the street. The theater is handicap accessible; please call ahead to arrange for special seating. More information is available at www.village-players.org or 866-764-1010.

Village Players Performing Arts Center offers an eclectic mix of entertainment that empowers and inspires while exploring the human condition.