[NEohioPAL] Berko review: 'MONSIEUR CHOPIN' (Cleveland Play House)

[Roy Berko]

Hershey Felder & Fryderyk Chopin hit the right notes
at CPH

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
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--Coolcleveland.com—

For the last several weeks, a visit to the Cleveland
Play House would have allowed you to meet George
Gershwin in performance.  This weekend, it’s Fryderyk
Chopin.  Well, actually, it’s not Gershwin or Chopin,
its Hershey Felder, portraying each.  No, not
portraying, inhabiting the theatrical body and piano
talents of both men.

Felder, who is a classically trained pianist with an
interest in musical composers, has delved not only
into the music of various composers, but into their
personal lives.  As a result he has developed a
three-movement theatrical series, ‘THE COMPOSER
SONATA.’   It consists of ‘BEETHOVEN,’ the dramatic,
architectural, deeply thoughtful and emotional first
movement;  ’MONSIEUR CHOPIN,’ the lush and beautiful
expression of soul, the second movement; and, ‘GEORGE
GERSHWIN ALONE,’ the dance-like, extroverted, and
joyous third movement. 

In ‘MONSIEUR CHOPIN,’ Felder exposes personal
information of the bi-polar Polish composer, who
reached his height of popularity in Paris after
departing his beloved country because of political
unrest.  Musically, Chopin is noted for his
compositions for the piano, an instrument which was
newly perfected during his life time.  As for his
private life, the major event was that for ten years
he was in an often tumultuous relationship with writer
George Sand.   He died at the age of 39.  
Interestingly, though his body is buried in Paris
cemetary, his heart was taken to Poland where it is
enshrined in a church crypt.

For the production, Felder takes on the role of Chopin
as he was in life, a teacher and composer.  He speaks
to the audience in a subtle accent which often comes
and goes.   He introduces us to Chopin’s love,
classical music, with a Polish tilt, including the
Polonaise and Mazurka.  He continues to remind us that
“you make beautiful music because you are an artist,
not to please someone else.”  

Felder, who showed good piano abilities in his
Gershwin piece, really shines in the Chopin exercise. 
He is a much better performer of classics than modern
tunes.

Through the first part of the program, the scripted
segment is quite interesting and a good lesson in
music history.  It is in the second, the ad-libbed
segment, in which Felder shines.  He takes questions
from the audience and responds as if he were Chopin. 
The results were both funny and impressive.  He really
knows the ins-and-outs of Chopin’s life and music.

As with ‘GEORGE GERSWIN ALONE,’ Scenic Designer Yael
Pardess has created a beautiful and appropriate
setting and Michael Gilliam’s mood lighting creates
the right atmosphere, heightened by pictures and
illusions.

CAPSULE JUDGMENT:   ‘MONSIEUR CHOPIN,’ as was ‘GEORGE
GERSHWIN ALONE, was both an educational and artistic
success.   Hershey Felder has the ability to teach
music appreciation in such a way that one could only
hope that professors could do as well.  If you missed
either show, you missed a wonderful experience.

‘GEE’S BEND’ is presently in production at CPH through
February 24.  Next on the calendar  is ‘DOUBT: A
PARABLE.’ one of the most celebrated American plays in
years, makes its Northeast Ohio debut in the Drury
beginning February 29 and runs through March 23, 2008.
 It is directed by Seth Gordon.

For tickets to ‘GEE’S BEND’ or ‘DOUBT:  A PARABLE’
call 216-795-7000 or go online to
www.clevelandplayhouse.com



Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.  His reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com


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