'Forgive me, Majesty. I am a vulgar man! But I assure you, my music is not.'
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| Courtesy of www.chichesterweb.co.uk |
This Summer at the Chichester Festival Theatre hosts the newly £22 million renewed Building. The refurbishment took 18 months and the the first production on the fantastic hexagonal, 1200 seater theatre was a legendary 1979 Baroque play, Amadeus, which really packs a punch.
This production of Amadeus celebrates the playwright, Peter Shaffer's 50 years association with the theatre, and it seemed a brilliant fit to 'show off' this relaunched theatre. Jonathan Church, both the Artistic Director of the theatre and the Director of this production, has directed a delightful, funny yet low tragedy which really draws you in.
Rupert Everett plays the 70 year old former Italian, monarchy composer Salieri, who from his wheelchair tells the audience his account of his clearly troubled relationship with his belief of God connected with music and that of the modern/irritating Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Salieri begins to covertly punish Mozart out of jealousy but when he feels abandoned by God, he takes pleasure in Mozarts psychological downfall which all gets all too much. Everett's portrayal of bitter jealousy towards Mozart is outstanding.
Mozart is played by the young Joshua McGuire who with ruthless energy and humour from the start is a pleasure to watch, but then the character shows the audience desperation and despair from his psychological downfall. After not being successful at court which really confuses Mozart, he resorts to ungodly performances of his works which leads to more tragedy from Salieri. The final scenes shows Mozart struggling to compose a requiem requested by an unknown figure in his mind, but it suddenly dawns on him he is composing the requiem for his own death.
Was Salieri to blame for Mozart's death?
Was Salieri to blame for Mozart's death?
The play is written like an opera, and with splendid acting and staging of the tragedy, you fell right in the heart of Salieri's story.
I give this production 4/5.
