Everyman does not shy away from work that requires strong character acting.
The small Chapter theatre allows for an intimate setting and the Salieri character can talk directly to his audience. This is really the most important part of the play and the scenes that tell us the story of Mozart are more like illustrations to accompany the monologue.
That is not to say that those scenes are not entertaining and well performed particularly those involving Mozart and his wife Constanza, played by Ashleigh Carter and Llinos McCann.
It is the strength of the performances of Salieri and Mozart that makes the production successful. Mozart was not just a precocious silly boy and Brian Smith as Salieri largely captured his anger at his fate.
The staging was effective with the constraint of the small theatre space.
Paragraph 1. “…work that requires exceptionally strong character actor…” should be “acting” not “actor. ”
Paragraph 1. “Peter Schaffer” should be “Shaffer.”
Paragraph 3. “…can talk directly to his audience, much of the play is him talking to us.” After “audience” there should either be a full stop or the word “as.”
Paragraph 4. “…particularly by Mozart and his wife Constanza, from Ashleigh Carter and Llinos McCann.” Very clunky. “…particularly by Ashleigh Carter and Llinos McCann as Mozart and his wife Constanza” would have been much better. Mozart and Constanza weren’t the actors!
Paragraph 5. “…and Brian Smith as Salieri largely captured his angry with his fate, and madness of the character.” Oh dear, I am afraid that can only be described as, “Not literate.”
Overall, not good at all. But a reviewer not even managing to get the name of the playwright right is definitely not acceptable. Posting a review that lacks consistent literacy on a literary site is not a good look.
Apologies if there are any typos from me, but I hope the above is literate!
Thank you for your corrections.
A new version of the review is now live.