‘Vincent’ tells of Van Gogh through his brother’s eyes

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Music at Madison will present the one-man play “Vincent” at 8 p.m., Friday, in conjunction with the Youngstown State University Summer Festival of the Arts.

The performance will be at Dorian Books, 802 Elm St., just north of the YSU campus.

Written by Leonard Nimoy, “Vincent” is based on hundreds of letters between artist Vincent Van Gogh and his brother, Theo. Rodd Coonce plays all characters.

Van Gogh wrote more than 500 letters to his brother during a 10-year period in which he struggled to master his art. Theo was Vincent’s support, financially and emotionally, and Vincent’s letters, now widely published, were as passionate as his paintings.

After Van Gogh’s death, Theo was too overcome to express himself. Nimoy built the play around the idea that Theo now wanted to say some things about his brother and had invited an audience to come and hear his story.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance through Dorian Books (330-743-2665) or Full Circle Florist (330-744-9980).