Eugene Weekly : Theater : 01.26.06

Or Did I Do It?

Amadeus questions the death of Mozart.

BY DANNY CROSS

The Very Little Theatre celebrates the 250th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birthday with a lively production of Amadeus, a fictional tale of Mozart's power struggle with a long-tenured Vienna court composer, Antonio Salieri.

The production sets up a confessional where Salieri (Michael P. Watkins) speaks to the audience during his final night on earth. Salieri recreates his life from the time he met the highly heralded composer, which initiated a fanatical power struggle between Salieri and God, who he blames for Mozart's amazing (and threatening) natural abilities. Mozart, played comically by Ben Minnis, pokes fun at the stiff, aristocratic nature of the 17th century upper class with shit jokes, drunken rants and high pitched giggles. Minnis is both hilarious as the youthful and exuberant Mozart, and tragic as the sickly, poor and broken composer who is finally shunned by the high class that never genuinely accepted him in the first place. From the time he arrives in Vienna, Mozart is seen as too showy. For example, critics pan an opera he writes for the emperor for having "too many notes."

Salieri believes that Mozart was God's messenger sent to earth to destroy him. "Reduce the man, reduce the God," Salieri dubiously explains while planning Mozart's destruction. Salieri describes his struggle against God and the means with which he justified sabotaging Mozart's career. Salieri's hatred for the greatness that young Mozart embodied drove him to interfere with Mozart's productions for the emperor, his potential for gaining high paying employment through teaching, and finally his inclusion with the Freemasons who offered him money during hard times.

Watkins portrays Salieri's malevolence and obsession during a scene in Mozart's apartment where Mozart hides under a blanket, terrified by nightmares. Salieri begs forgiveness for reducing Mozart to a mad pauper and screams at the blanketed human figure: "You left me with nothing!" Even after Mozart hits rock bottom, Salieri's hatred of him is alive and well.

Minnis is at his best as the 25-year-old Mozart, fresh faced and fun loving. The production moves quickly thanks to Mozart's lowbrow humor and his vulgarity and playfulness are in stark contrast to the uptight aristocrats. The elegant costumes and the set's fancy furniture portray the aura of aristocracy consistent with the times.

Salieri dies at the end of the long night of confession believing that his name will forever be linked with the great Mozart's. We find, however, through gossip, that this is not the case. The people of Vienna don't believe that Salieri could commit such dubious acts, and his memory dies with him. Or does it?

Opening Nights

Cyrano at Willamette Repertory Theatre Opens Friday, Jan. 27

Opening at the Hult Center's Soreng Theatre is Willamette Rep's Oregon premiere of Cyrano, based on the classic love story about a 17th-century French cavalier, poet and Swordsman who falls madly in love with the beautiful Roxanne, but assumes that she could never love him back because of his gargantuan nose. Performance dates are Jan. 27-28 and Feb. 2-5 and 9-12. Call the Hult Center Box office at 682-5000 for tickets or at www.hultcenter.org

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change! at Actors Cabaret of Eugene Opens Friday, Jan. 27

ACE opens this Broadway musical comedy revue that explores the joys and foibles of modern relationships — everything from dating, romance and marriage to in-laws, newborns, family vacations and pick-up techniques of the geriatric set. Show dates are Jan. 27-28, Feb. 3-5, 10-11, 14, 17-18 and 24-25. Call 683-4368 for tickets.