Mozart, Salieri & the Bear

See it if you would like to see a clear staging of 2 important short 19th century Russian plays.

Don't see it if you are looking for sparkling productions: these feel slack.

Also As a theater nerd I thank Meile, the producer of a current set of 2 short Russian plays of the 19th century, “Mozart & Salieri” & “The Bear.” The former is the sole produced play by the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, & the latter is an early short (slight) farce by a towering figure of modern theater, Anton Chekhov. The former is rarely produced in the US, the latter, mostly in acting classes. Here the actors try hard, sometimes deliver & sometimes are foiled by circumstances. In Russian verse, the Pushkin might have a beauty that in the English version feels talky. Though a nominal 2-hander, the real drama takes place in Salieri’s head, which means lots of long speeches. A different kind of slackness impairs the Chekhov. The pace is slow, damaging in a farce, where whole passages beg for Keystone-comedy speed. But the actors are clear in speech & intent, the costumes are handsome &, for the right kind of theater buff, a chance to see these plays is not to be missed.... Read more Read less