Peter Shaffer: AMADEUS
Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich
‘An enthralling evening – and not to be missed’.
William Byrd: May 28th, 2004
The dazzling glitter of the Viennese court offers a breathtaking contrast to the dark and troubled mind of Antonio Salieri in Clare Goddard’s stunning production of Peter Shaffer’s masterpiece.
A lavish set, lovingly painted in intricate detail by designer John Stokes, immediately demands full attention.
It is complimented by David Lambert’s towering performance in the colossal role of Salieri, the court composer who is forced to confront the relatively modest nature of his musical talents when one Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart comes giggling into town.
Lambert is on top form as the green-eyed monster grabs hold of Salieri.
Yet while Salieri and Mozart hog most of the limelight, the success of the show depends hugely on the sterling efforts of 20 other spectacularly-costumed and bewigged cast members representing the courtiers, divas, servants, lovers and hangers-on of the day.
And you can scarcely blame him for wanting to do away with Mozart as portrayed by Turlough Lloyd. He plays the coarse, inebriated, gurgling, womanising, infantile genius to convincing perfection.
Haley Cawthorne excels as Mozart’s long-suffering wife Constanze, while a somewhat heavily-powdered Neville Miller is a hoot as the doddery Emperor Joseph.
