Post by spiralstatic on Mar 19, 2017 23:31:03 GMT
I just saw the play at the National Theatre for its final times since it has now closed until 2018 and I would like to say Adam Gillen (Mozart) is incredible! And so is Lucian Msamati (Salieri).
It was always Hulce for me in the film. But in a large sense, the roles of Mozart and Salieri are so different, comparison seems wrong. Like, it seems more personal taste as to which character you lean towards loving...?
For example, having seen the play just now I know several things:
1) Both actors are wondrous and the real best aspect is how they play off each other and work together and against each other...
2) In fact Salieri is a character who, if played well is more likely to get unanimous praise as everyone thinks the same way, really - he is played well, but who despite being who the story is about.. the character who is the emotional heart of the play is first and foremost, Mozart.
3) Mozart is so wild and extreme a characterisation that I imagine whoever plays him would more often get people loving or not loving the portrayal. But if your heart doesn't break for Mozart, the story fails in my view.
4) At its best, your heart should also break for Salieri by the end. But Mozart must break your heart or the story fails. And Tom Hulce did it. Adam Gillen did it too.
It is some time since I watched this film I used to watch over and over and over as a young teenager. But it was Hulce for me then and Gillen for me now. I speak for the play now, but Adam Gillen, for me was so wonderful that the play came to life when he was on stage. And despite the extreme nature of Mozart's characterisation, that I also felt Mozart's vulnerabilities, tenderness, intelligence and so on and thus felt all that made Mozart's music what it is makes Gillen the scene stealer and extraordinary performance of the night for me.
I know that most reviewers would say Msamati though. And he is wonderful.
Sorry, I am rambling on about the play but I saw it twice before and ADORED it so much I went to see it twice - on Friday and Saturday so am still in the grasp of my adoration! If it makes it to NT Live near anyone, I really recommend! It is not quite the same as the film.
But, to be simple, for me: Hulce. Yet, my main feeling about the film is how I felt at 14, so how much you wish to read into that I don't know. I think there's probably more purity to your feelings at 14, though.
It was always Hulce for me in the film. But in a large sense, the roles of Mozart and Salieri are so different, comparison seems wrong. Like, it seems more personal taste as to which character you lean towards loving...?
For example, having seen the play just now I know several things:
1) Both actors are wondrous and the real best aspect is how they play off each other and work together and against each other...
2) In fact Salieri is a character who, if played well is more likely to get unanimous praise as everyone thinks the same way, really - he is played well, but who despite being who the story is about.. the character who is the emotional heart of the play is first and foremost, Mozart.
3) Mozart is so wild and extreme a characterisation that I imagine whoever plays him would more often get people loving or not loving the portrayal. But if your heart doesn't break for Mozart, the story fails in my view.
4) At its best, your heart should also break for Salieri by the end. But Mozart must break your heart or the story fails. And Tom Hulce did it. Adam Gillen did it too.
It is some time since I watched this film I used to watch over and over and over as a young teenager. But it was Hulce for me then and Gillen for me now. I speak for the play now, but Adam Gillen, for me was so wonderful that the play came to life when he was on stage. And despite the extreme nature of Mozart's characterisation, that I also felt Mozart's vulnerabilities, tenderness, intelligence and so on and thus felt all that made Mozart's music what it is makes Gillen the scene stealer and extraordinary performance of the night for me.
I know that most reviewers would say Msamati though. And he is wonderful.
Sorry, I am rambling on about the play but I saw it twice before and ADORED it so much I went to see it twice - on Friday and Saturday so am still in the grasp of my adoration! If it makes it to NT Live near anyone, I really recommend! It is not quite the same as the film.
But, to be simple, for me: Hulce. Yet, my main feeling about the film is how I felt at 14, so how much you wish to read into that I don't know. I think there's probably more purity to your feelings at 14, though.
