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Victorian opens season with strong ‘Amadeus’
By LORRAINE WARDLE
The Victorian Players has been “Youngstown’s best-kept secret” for 20 years. If their first production of the season, “Amadeus,” is any indication, their 20th season will be one to remember.
Peter Shaffer’s “Amadeus” is the fictionalized last confession of Antonio Salieri, an Italian composer. Salieri was a respected and revered court composer in Vienna in the late 18th century. But his renown was threatened by the arrival of a young virtuoso, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Speaking directly to the audience, Salieri describes his relationship with the brash yet gifted young Mozart. Salieri’s jealousy of Mozart’s talent drives him to socially destroy and, possibly, kill the young composer.
“Amadeus” is long — nearly three hours with intermission — and much of the play is narration by Salieri with “flashback” scenes from his memory. Shaffer’s writing is clever and interesting, but at times, the scenes tend to drag on. Though the script may need a little editing, director Terri Wilkes and her cast did an excellent job bringing this drama to life.
It is interesting that the play is called “Amadeus” when the main character clearly is Salieri. The title obviously refers to Salieri’s obsession with Mozart, a mania that Lawrence Latsko played well. As Salieri, Latsko was the glue that held the play together, speaking for nearly the entire play and never missing a beat. At times cool and calculating, at others full of rage and passion, Latsko made Salieri both manic and sympathetic.
In the title role, Cleric Costes played a very complex character. His Mozart ran the gamut from childish brute to intellectual musical-genius to lost and broken soul. Costes played Mozart with grace and obvious experience, moving between Mozart’s various personalities with ease.
As Mozart’s wife, Constanze, Liz Conrad showed her range, beginning as a somewhat obnoxious young girl and developing into a mature and desperate woman. Terry Shears gave a natural and amusing performance as Emperor Joseph II. He was truly believable as the Viennese monarch.
The technical aspects of the production were impressive for the tiny space of the Vic. The set design, by Wilkes and Dr. Thomas Copeland, was simple and elegant, changing from one scene to another seamlessly and effectively. Ellen Licitra’s lighting design added to the ambience of the piece, though at times Salieri’s face was in shadows. The costumes, by Pam Sacui and Irena Harvey, were beautiful and fit the time period perfectly.
Though the play is largely fictional, it provides an interesting look into the mind of a great composer who was overshadowed by the genius of another. With Lawrence Latsko and Cleric Costes, two great actors, in the lead roles, this production of “Amadeus” is captivating.
“Amadeus” continues at the Victorian Players today and next Sunday at 2 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call 330-746-5455.