Reviewed
by Judy Richter
Music paves the path to salvation in Jon Marans' "Old Wicked Songs," being staged by Marin Theatre Company. In this case the music is Robert Schumann's 1840 "Dichterleibe (A Poet's Love)," Op. 48, a cycle of 16 songs, or lieder, set to poems by Heinrich Heine.
The
setting is a rehearsal studio in Vienna in 1986. A young American piano
prodigy, Stephen Hoffman (Mark Farrell), has come to Vienna to study with a famous piano
teacher to try to overcome the block that has kept him from playing for more
than a year. However, before working with Stephen, the teacher says he must
study with a vocal coach, Josef Mashkan (Jarion Monroe). Stephen, who's already
uptight, balks at that requirement and only grudgingly goes along with the
acerbic Mashkan's insistence that he study and sing the
"Dichterleibe" while Mashkan accompanies him on the piano in his
studio. In the meantime, Kurt Waldheim is running for and is elected president
of Austria despite his history as a Nazi soldier who helped to persecute Jews
during World War II.
Over
time, however, the two men reach something of an accord, thanks in part to the
emotions expressed in the words and music. Stephen becomes more relaxed (as
reflected in costumes by Todd Roehrman), and both men become more willing to talk about
themselves and rid themselves of emotional baggage. A key factor for both of
them is that they're Jewish, although neither will say so at first. However,
after Stephen visits Dachau one weekend, he comes back committed to his
Jewishness, and Mashkan rolls up his shirt sleeve to reveal the concentration
camp number tattooed on his forearm.
Damashek
and the two actors carefully develop the characters, revealing nuances. Both
men sing well and either play or simulate playing the piano well. Brandon
Adams is musical
director. The program gives thanks to Craig Bohmler, who served as musical director
for San Jose Repertory Theatre's production in 1998.
Steve
Coleman's scenic
design, complemented by Jon Retsky's lighting, recreates not only Mashkan's old, somewhat
seedy studio but also depicts Mashkan's beloved Vienna through a window as well
as a cityscape in the background. Jeff Mockus' sound design also adds to the
atmosphere with such effects as the sound of dripping water to go with a bucket
in one corner.
It's
a beautifully crafted play, a finalist for the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for drama
and winner of the New York Drama League and L.A. Drama-Logue awards.
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