Friday, January 17, 2025

Felder returns to TheatreWorks as Rachmaninoff

 

Jonathan Silvestri (left) plays the tsar. Hershey Felder is Rachmaninoff. (Stefano DeCarli photo)

Over the years, pianist-playwright Hershey Felder has delighted TheatreWorks Silicon Valley audiences with his one-man musical plays about composers like Gershwin, Berlin, Chopin, Beethoven and others.

He has returned with his latest creation, “Rachmaninoff and the Tsar,” in a new format: He’s joined by another performer, Jonathan Silvestri, who plays Russian Tsar Nicholas Romanov II.

This play begins in Beverly Hills in 1943, where Sergei Rachmaninoff, the Russian composer-pianist, has settled after fleeing Russia following the Bolshevik uprising in 1918. He’s now 70 years old and terminally ill. Because he’s in so much pain, he receives twice-daily morphine injections.

Under the drug’s influence, he harks back to his early life and education in Russia followed by travels with his wife.

He harbors deep ill will toward the tsar, blaming him for the problems and cruel oppression that led to the uprising.

A central theme involves the tsar’s daughter Anastasia, who might or might not have survived the firing squad that killed him and the rest of his family.

It’s all fascinating, but some of the story line is lost because of the Russian accents used by both performers.

Directed by Trevor Hay, the production is highlighted by Felder’s acting and his virtuosic performances of some of Rachmaninoff’s best known piano concertos.

On the other hand, Silvestri seems stiff, especially since he doesn’t always have much to do. I’m wondering if he was suffering from some disposition because he sounded hoarse during the Jan. 15 performance.

Production values are high with the garden set by Felder and costumes by Marysol M. Gabriel. Lighting by Erik S. Barry seemed to have some glitches as lights sometimes flickered against the house in the background.

This is reportedly Felder’s last show of its kind.

It will continue through Feb. 9 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View.

For tickets and information, call (877) 662-8978 or visit www.theatreworks.org.