Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus begins quietly with whispers of the identify ‘Salieri’. Not way back the National Theatre had London whispering ‘Amadeus’ with its sell-out runs of the play. Star-studded casts initially introduced this whisper from the West End in 1979, by way of Broadway and the Tony Award for Best Play, onto the massive screens in 1984 the place it gained a swarm of awards, together with eight Oscars. Across the globe Amadeus opens on the Sydney Opera House subsequent month, and solely just lately it was introduced {that a} TV sequence adaptation is within the works. More than 4 a long time after it was…
Rating
Good
Shaffer’s epic masterpiece is given a good adaptation by newbie (in identify solely) theatre firm Sedos.
Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus begins quietly with whispers of the identify ‘Salieri’. Not way back the National Theatre had London whispering ‘Amadeus’ with its sell-out runs of the play. Star-studded casts initially introduced this whisper from the West End in 1979, by way of Broadway and the Tony Award for Best Play, onto the massive screens in 1984 the place it gained a swarm of awards, together with eight Oscars. Across the globe Amadeus opens on the Sydney Opera House subsequent month, and solely just lately it was introduced {that a} TV sequence adaptation is within the works. More than 4 a long time after it was written, the phrase continues to be on our lips.
Standing on the backs of giants, the busy and bold newbie theatre firm Sedos presents Amadeus for us at The Bridewell Theatre – and that is no imply feat. It’s an epic, three hour story of revenge and desperation that includes two composers: Antonio Salieri, performed by Chris de Pury, and the play’s namesake Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed by Alex Johnston. There’s a big forged, a protracted checklist of items of music and absolute shedloads of strains to slot in, so the compact Bridewell was about able to burst making an attempt to comprise this adaptation. I anticipated this could be an abridged model, however Sedos appears to have the complete shebang prepared for us, and I’ve to applaud the forged (whose biographies inform of their day jobs) simply to have the ability to get from one finish to the opposite wanting cleanly rehearsed.
Steven King’s set transforms the house into someplace that invitations the story, with sheet music pasted on the flooring and partitions, and efficient costumes by Callum Anderson. Unfortunately, different parts lose a few of the polish. The lights often go away in shadow somebody I used to be fairly positive I needs to be taking a look at, and the sound nonetheless wants some tweaking when there may be music and speech on the identical time.
The phrase ‘amateur’ comes with connotations, however this forged maintain their very own towards previous performances of Amadeus. Everyone appears to be in precisely the place they have to be at any time, usually slickly choregraphed, and the ensemble work is cohesive. The composer performances, by de Pury and Johnston, are each nice; filled with power and clearly completely enraptured with the story. However, I puzzled at instances if the lengthy monologues may permit for a bit extra distinction and nuance. I additionally thought it was odd that Salieri has one thing of an Italian accent as his outdated self, however not when he’s youthful. Standing out as faultless, although, is Jamila Jennings-Grant as Mozart’s spouse, Constanze, who shines as she tugs our feelings from one facet to the opposite.
Shaffer’s play is a piece of genius that doesn’t solely enchantment to classical music followers (though there’s a number of additional moments of wit if you recognize your 18th-Century bangers), and Sedos ought to give themselves an enormous pat on the again for his or her adept and pleasing model of it.
Written by: Peter Shaffer
Directed by: Matt Gould
Produced by: Pippa Kyle for Sedos
Set Design by: Steven King
Lighting Design by: Olly Levett
Sound Design by: Adrian Jeakins
Costume Design by: Callum Anderson
Hair and Make-up by: Jobina Hardy
Amadeus performs at Bridewell Theatre till 3 December. Further data and bookings might be discovered right here.