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<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><b style><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Is that Leonard Bernstein or Hershey Felder on stage at Cleveland
Play House?</span></b></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black">(Member, American
Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)</span><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"></span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Leonard Bernstein is noted as the first
conductor of a major orchestra who was born in America.<span style> </span>His talent as a composer, author, music
lecturer and pianist has made his name a household word.<span style> </span>Besides his long tenure as the musical
director of the New York Philharmonic, he is noted as the composer of such
Broadway shows as WEST SIDE STORY, CANDIDE, WONDERFUL TOWN, and ON THE
TOWN.<span style> </span>His most noted classical
composition was MASS, dedicated To the memory of John F. Kennedy.</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Canadian Hershey Felder is recognized
as a pianist, actor, playwright, and composer.<span style> </span>His fame has mainly centered on his portraying well known
composers and performers.<span style> </span>An
accomplished pianist, performing in such pieces as GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE,
MONSIEUR CHOPIN, BEETHOVEN: AS I KNEW HIM, Felder not only takes on the persona
of the man whose life he is presenting, but also plays the persons music. </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino">His latest creation is MAESTRO:<span style> </span>LEONARD BERNSTEIN A PLAY WITH
MUSIC.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino">As the audience enters the Allen
Theatre, on a large background consisting of a page of music, a video of the
late Leonard Bernstein giving one of his masterful lectures on how to conduct,
is seen.<span style> </span>Also present is a piano,
several chairs and a television camera.<span style>
</span>At one point in the video, in a smooth transition, Bernsteins image is
replaced by that of Hershey Felder.<span style>
</span>At that moment Felder appears on the stage as Bernstein.</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino">What follows is a personal exposition
with Felder (Bernstein), in present tense language, telling of his transition
from a young son of Orthodox Jewish Russian immigrants to his untimely
death.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino">We learn of his tenuous relationships
with his father, mother, wife, and male lover, as well as his tenacity in
meeting and becoming an associate with many kings of the classical and
theatrical world including Aaron Copeland, Serge Koussevitzky, Adolph Green,
and Jerome Robbins.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino">He shares the startling story of his
assent into the rarified world of conducting when, on November 14, 1943, while
serving as assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, without
any rehearsals, he was thrust on stage to replace conductor, Bruno Walter, who
had suddenly become ill.<span style> </span>A fairy
tale ending results in Bernsteins quick assent into recognition as a major
conductor.</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino">As Felder has proved when he appeared
on the Cleveland Play House stage in 2008 and 2010, he is a master storyteller
and a competent pianist and vocalist.<span style>
</span>His MAESTRO: LEONARD BERNSTEIN is by far his best imitation of a life
lived.</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino">He looks somewhat like the maestro,
has developed the vocal and physical affectations of Bernstein, and melds
himself so well into the character, that it is difficult to separate the
two.<span style> </span>The script is well
written.<span style> </span>The performance
effectively acted and played.</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino">CAPSULE
JUDGMENT:<span style="color:black"><span style>
</span>MAESTRO:<span style> </span>LEONARD BERNSTEIN
is a compelling evening of discovery which exposes not only the life of a real
person, but is an intriguing probe into the world of music and life in the
arts.<span style> </span>This is a must see for
anyone interested in music and theatre.</span></span></i></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:14pt"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">MAESTRO:<span style>
</span>LEONARD BERNSTEIN runs through August 6, 2013 at the Allen Theatre in
PlayhouseSquare.<span style> </span>For tickets call
216-241-6000 or go to <a href="http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com">http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com</a>.</span></p>
<p class="" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)"> </span></span></p><p class="" style="text-autospace:none"><br><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></p>
<p class="" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><br></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<br></div>