The intrigue surrounding the life and death of one of the world’s great composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, comes to life at Kelsey Theater with Peter Shaffer’s Tony Award-winning drama “Amadeus.” The intriguing drama is presented by PinnWorth Productions on Fridays and Saturdays, January 7, 8, 14, and 15 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, January 9 and 16, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $14.
The play, set in 18th century Vienna, offers a fictionalized narrative of two men whose fates are intertwined: Mozart, the brilliant, manic genius who composes inspired symphonies, and Antonio Salieri, the less-gifted court musician who observes Mozart’s successes with envy and blinding resentments.
When “Amadeus” opened at the Broadhurst Theater in 1980, Tim Curry portrayed Mozart and Jane Seymour played the role of his wife. The show ran for 1,181 performances. It received six Tony Awards, including best play. It was revived at the Music Box Theater in 1999.
The Kelsey production features West Windsor actors Ashley Stuart as Mozart’s wife, Constanze Weber; Frank Ferrara as Gottfried Van Swieten, an Austrian government official and a patron of Mozart; and Russ Weiss as Johann Kilian Von Strack, the valet and musical advisor to the emperor. The show is directed by Lou J Stalsworth of Allentown. Set and costume design is by Stalsworth’s wife, Kate Pinner, who has been working on the “Amadeus” costumes since May in an effort to replicate down to the button the clothing of Mozart’s day. Lighting and sound design are by Robert Terrano of East Windsor.
Stuart’s first stage experience was on the Kelsey stage as a caroler in “A Christmas Carol,” when she was 11. During her years at High School South she was a cheerleader and time commitments would have conflicted with a pursuit of acting. She did take many acting classes while in high school and was given the opportunity to student teach in her senior year with Demi Ashton, who directed many plays during her years at South.
Stuart graduated from South in 2004 and entered Gettysburg College with a major in biology. She switched to theater arts major in her sophomore year. Her favorite and most memorable role was Blanche DuBois from Tennessee William’s “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Her parents Tina, a teacher; and Jeff, a banker in New York City, are very supportive and see all of her shows.
Although Stuart graduated from Gettysburg in 2008 with a degree in theater arts, she is now taking pre-requisite science classes at Mercer College before applying to universities to study nursing. At present she lives with her parents and works as a nanny.
“I have absolutely loved working on `Amadeus’ and cannot wait until the show opens, she says. “We have a terrific cast, all hardworkers, and have managed, under the wise direction of Lou Stalsworth, to pull together a truly great show.”
“I have really enjoyed playing the part of Constanze Weber, Mozart’s wife,” says Stuart. “She loves her husband, despite his many idiosyncrasies, but must ultimately do what she can to survive.”
— Lynn Miller
Amadeus, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Drama with music. $16. 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.net.
