Bach at Leipzig
When a show is a funny, fast-paced, superbly-acted farce, it might certainly be worth a gander. But when said show deals with history, baroque music and famous composers, all in a screamingly-funny production, then you gotta go see it.
Itamar Moses, still under 35, has written a marvelous comedy about six composers vying – amid backstabbing, lying and kidnapping – for the well-paid post of organist at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Saxony, in 1722. Constantly at war (or the threat thereof) with each other, these city-states (which didn’t coalesce into modern Germany in the latter third of the 19th Century) supplied funds for their churches to hire composer/organist/ teachers. These men (always men) composed some fantastic religious music: these included Georg Phillip Telemann and Johan Sebastian Bach (and sons).
Moses’ conceit – brilliantly executed by director Darin Anthony – is that in order to get this badly-needed job, these otherwise civilized men will do anything to each other. The fun is in watching what they do, how it works and how it backfires.
The irony of all this villainous fun is that JS Bach never shows up in the play, and Telemann has no lines. But the seven actors mark their characters so individually that even with the running gag of three having the same first name of Johan and four with the same first name of Georg (they distinguish among themselves by the use of their middle names), they are all distinguishable from each other, period-costumed and -bewigged as they are. Rob Nagle, in the lead as J.F. Fasch, brings a wealth of reality to his farcical role (as everyone must) and is believable throughout. Joel Polis, Dominic Conti, Henry Clarke, Bill Brochtrup and Michael Cavanaugh are equal to Mr. Nagle, making the director’s work all the more plausible.
The costume- (and presumably wig-) designer, A. Jeffrey Schoenberg, has created some gorgeous outfits for the men to wear. Every little detail appears to be authentic and the men work well in them, including the one at the end who is clothed in practically nothing.
Please believe me that I laughed so loudly and so hard that I was gasping for breath before it was over. And so might you.
Bach at Leipzig runs Wednesday through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Priced from $25 to $30, with senior and student rush at $5 off. There are pay-what-you-can performances on July 10th, 19th and 31st.