The story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and rival Antonio Salieri is told in “Amadeus,” staged at Langley’s Theatre in the Country from April 10-27.
Two Surrey-based actors are among cast members, father/daughter duo of Murray Schindel (playing Guiseppe Bonno and Major Domo) and Athena Turner (Baron Von Stract).
They’re among 11 actors in the dinner-theatre show, starring Tyler Boe as Mozart and Reg Parks as Salieri.
Forty years after the Academy Award-winning film, based on his 1979 play, Peter Shaffer’s acclaimed script brings “a tumultuous world of jealousy, passion and genius” to the stage at 5708 Glover Rd.
“The gorgeous and sumptuous story has become a unique theatrical ride,” Parks, TIC’s artistic director, wrote in a post on theatreinthecountry.com/amadeus2024, where show tickets are sold (or call 604-259-9737).
“I have never been a fan of classical music or opera, but this piece has taken me into the history of that genre and the drama behind the art form,” Parks continued. “The popularity of these composers in their era is like pop stars today. It’s as though you are invited into the opulence and craziness of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour only with cantatas and concertos instead of ‘Shake it Off.’”
As Salieri schemes to undermine Mozart’s meteoric rise in 18th-century Vienna, a battle of talent, ego, and ambition ensues, culminating in a dramatic confrontation.
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“Amadeus” marks Turner’s first time on the TIC stage, while her father Schindel had roles in the company’s past two productions.
“It takes an amazing group of talented people to bring a show like this together,” Parks added. “The sets and costumes must reflect the grandness of the era and the performances are almost operatic in drama and humour to embody these characters that are so driven in their passion for music.”
Other actors in “Amadeus” are Vanessa Lazare (as Constanze Weber), Dovreshin MacRae (Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor), Julie Waage (Teresa/Cook), Mady Walker (Venticelli 1), Nicky Walton (Baron van Swieten), Kelly Wersta (Count Orsini-Rosenberg) and Gary Wolfowicz (Venticelli 2). They’re directed by Rachel Stephens, who has an undergrad degree in opera and well knows Mozart’s music.
Later this spring, the musical “Anastasia” is brought to the stage at Theatre in the Country, starting June 5.
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