Friday, April 13, 2012

Quick Hit Theater Review: The Morini Strad

Michael Laurence and Mary Beth Peil. Photo: James Leynse
The Morini Strad
By Willy Holtzman
Directed by Casey Childs
Original Music and Sound Design: Lindsay Jones
Starring Michael Laurence, Mary Beth Peil and Hanah Stuart
Set Design: Neil Patel; Costume Design David C. Woolard
Presented by Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters

Summary:
Former violin virtuoso Erica (Mary Beth Peil) hires Brian (Michael Laurence) to restore, then offer for sale, her most precious possession: the famed Karl Davydov Stradivarius. An unexpected friendship develops between the difficult, highly bred and Vienna-born artist and the laid back American man torn between a desire to create new violins (sort of his own version of the Strads) and his responsibility to his wife and children to earn a paycheck doing repair work instead. He seamlessly repairs a scratch on the 1727 instrument and Erica asks his to be her agent in its sale. A chance to earn a commission on the Strad, valued at $3.5 million, might just be the break Brian needs, but Erica becomes less willing to part with the beloved instrument that has been such a big part of her life. As she remembers her first concert at Carnegie Hall, or other highlights from her career, the memory comes to life as Hanah Stuart is spotlighted in a faded period costume while playing the violin. Based somewhat on real-life incidents in the life of Erica Morini.
Hanah Stuart .  © 2012 James Leynse
Highlights:
Peil and Laurence give it their all to infuse the characters with layers and chemistry. The live violin, particularly the first memory depicted, where the technique is at its most effective, adds to the mood. A play with such emphasis on music would seem dead without the live instrument.

Lowlights:
The play is uneven with some implausibilities. Brian is a technician for priceless violins, recognizes the Davidov by sight, but never heard of Erica before? He really works on these instruments in a room in his home where kids and dogs could get to them? What Brian thinks he will be able to purchase with his commission is completely unrealistic (the items he lists would probably require the full amount of the Strad's purchase price). And what's up with all the marmalade he keeps bringing her? A plot that doesn't develop keeps us asking questions like this. I am not an expert, just a lover of the sound a Strad makes, but the violin here, though skillfully played, doesn't sound like a Strad.
Other information:
Stuart, born in the USA in 1987, began studying the violin at age five. She graduated from The Juilliard School with her Masters in May 2011 under David Chan. She was a featured artist soloing with the 2011 Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra this past season under Meastro Nicholas McGegan. She also has been featured in Masterclasses internationally including gala performances at the 2010 Keshet Eilon Mastercourse and the 2009 Kronberg Academy Masterclass, playing for Christian Tetzlaff and Gidon Kremer. She made her Chicago Symphony Center debut at age 16 and has since been an international performer.

The Morini Strad plays a limited engagement through April 28 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters, 59 East 59th St., NYC. Single tickets are $65 and may be purchased in person, by calling 212-279-4200 or online at www.primarystages.org.

Christians might like to know:
-- Sexual dialogue
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Gracewell Prodiuctions

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Our reviews are professional reviews written without a religious bias. At the end of them, you can find a listing of language, content or theological issues that Christians might want to know about when deciding which shows to see.

** Mature indicates that the show has posted an advisory because of content. Usually this means I would recommend no one under the age of 16 attend.

Theater Critic Lauren Yarger

Theater Critic Lauren Yarger

My Bio

Lauren Yarger has written, directed and produced numerous shows and special events for both secular and Christian audiences. She co-wrote a Christian musical version of “A Christmas Carol” which played to sold-out audiences of over 3,000 in Vermont and was awarded the Vermont Bessie (theater and film awards) for “People’s Choice for Theatre.” She also has written two other dinner theaters, sketches for church services and devotions for Christian artists. Her play concept, "From Reel to Real: The Jennifer O'Neill Story" was presented as part of the League of professional Theatre Women's Julia's reading Room Series in New York. Shifting from reviewing to producing, Yarger owns Gracewell Productions, which produced the Table Reading Series at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT. She trained for three years in the Broadway League’s Producer Development Program, completed the Commercial Theater Institute's Producing Intensive and other training and produced a one-woman musical about Mary Magdalene that toured nationally and closed with an off-Broadway run. She was a Fellow at the National Critics Institute at the O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. She wrote reviews of Broadway and Off-Broadway theater (the only ones you can find in the US with an added Christian perspective) at http://reflectionsinthelight.blogspot.com/.

She is editor of The Connecticut Arts Connection (http://ctarts.blogspot.com), an award-winning website featuring theater and arts news for the state. She was a contributing editor for BroadwayWorld.com. She previously served as theater reviewer for the Manchester Journal-Inquirer, Connecticut theater editor for CurtainUp.com and as Connecticut and New York reviewer for American Theater Web.

She is a Co-Founder of the Connecticut Chapter of the League of Professional Theatre Women. She is a former vice president and voting member of The Drama Desk.

She is a freelance writer and playwright (member Dramatists Guild of America). She is a member if the The Outer Critics Circle (producer of the annual awards ceremony) and a member of The League of Professional Theatre Women, serving as Co-Founder of the Connecticut Chapter. Yarger was a book reviewer for Publishers Weekly A former newspaper editor and graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, Yarger also worked in arts management for the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and served for nine years as the Executive Director of Masterwork Productions, Inc. She lives with her husband in West Granby, CT. They have two adult children.

Copyright

All material is copyright 2008- 2024 by Lauren Yarger. Reviews and articles may not be reprinted without permission. Contact reflectionsinthelight@gmail.com

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Key to Content Notes:

God's name taken in vain -- means God or Jesus is used in dialogue without speaking directly to or about them.

Language -- means some curse words are used. "Minor" usually means the words are not too strong or that it only occurs once or twice throughout the show.

Strong Language -- means some of the more heavy duty curse words are used.

Nudity -- means a man or woman's backside, a man's lower front or a woman's front are revealed.

Scantily clad -- means actors' private areas are technically covered, but I can see a lot of them.

Sexual Language -- means the dialogue contains sexually explicit language but there's no action.

Sexual Activity -- means a man and woman are performing sexual acts.

Adultery -- Means a married man or woman is involved sexually with someone besides their spouse. If this is depicted with sexual acts on stage, the list would include "sexual activity" as well.

Sex Outside of Marriage -- means a man and woman are involved sexually without being married. If this is depicted sexually on stage, the list would include "sexual activity" as well.

Homosexuality -- means this is in the show, but not physically depicted.

Homosexual activity -- means two persons of the same sex are embracing/kissing. If they do more than that, the list would include "sexual activity" as well.

Cross Dresser -- Means someone is dressing as the opposite sex. If they do more than that on stage the listing would include the corresponding "sexual activity" and/or "homosexual activity" as well.

Cross Gender -- A man is playing a female part or a woman is playing a man's part.

Suggestive Dancing -- means dancing contains sexually suggestive moves.

Derogatory (category added Fall 2012) Language or circumstances where women or people of a certain race are referred to or treated in a negative and demeaning manner.

Other content matters such as torture, suicide, or rape will be noted, with details revealed only as necessary in the review itself.

The term "throughout" added to any of the above means it happens many times throughout the show.

Reviewing Policy

I receive free seats to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows made available to all voting members of the Outer Critics Circle. Journalistically, I provide an unbiased review and am under no obligation to make positive statements. Sometimes shows do not make tickets available to reviewers. If these are shows my readers want to know about I will purchase a ticket. If a personal friend is involved in a production, I'll let you know, but it won't influence a review. If I feel there is a conflict, I won't review their portion of the production.

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