By Rikki Lee Travolta
One of the wonderful things about the United States of America is its longstanding role as a melting pot of different cultures. Not only is the multitude of different cultures in our country something to be celebrated, but the same is true of the more localized market of Chicago.
One culture that is very prominent in Chicago is Polish. In fact, with almost 2 million such residents, Chicago has the largest population of Poles anywhere in the world after Warsaw.
As with many nationalities, those of Polish descent are a proud people. Among the many treasures to emerge from Poland, was composer Fryderyk Chopin.
Chopin composed mainly for solo piano, although he did venture into other areas. In total, there are over 230 known works of the brilliant pianist and composer. Showing brilliance at a young age, Chopin first started composing at the age of 7 – earning notoriety as a child prodigy.
“Monsieur Chopin – A Play with Music” is a solo production starring Hershey Felder as the famous composer. Now playing at Writers Theatre in Glencoe, “Monsieur Chopin” is an experience like no other.
Renowned actor and classically trained pianist Felder doesn’t just put on a performance pretending to be the famous piano visionary, for all intents and purposes he becomes Chopin.
In life, Chopin supported himself largely through lessons held in his intimate salon. The play honors this, with the setting being the composer giving such a lesson in his Paris salon circa 1848. The audience is cast as his students.
Hershey Felder’s charm is magnetic. With an underlying current of gentle playfulness and good nature, within seconds of taking the stage, Felder has you in love with him.
In turn, this instantly makes you a fan of Chopin – even if prior to the evening you couldn’t name a single composition. However, chances are most people do know his work, even if they don’t know to attribute it to him.
What transpires over the course of the evening is a history lesson of this Polish hero. But it is not just facts or a lecture. It is a mesmerizing interaction with history.
Felder is both an impeccable recreation of Chopin and at the same time a warm and witty tour guide. His Polish accent has been drilled to perfection, even going so far as to ever so subtly provide evidence of Chopin’s residence in Paris since the age of 21.
Even though Chopin never returned to Poland after departing at age 20 and would later become a French citizen, he always identified as being a Pole. Further, he never felt comfortable speaking French and always preferred his native language.
Chopin is both the subject and the narrator, brought to life in such detail it’s like being in the room with real musical genius. The transitions between historian and historical figure are so seamless that one never even notices.
Felder’s flawless delivery of the script comes from years of detailed work, having presented the work previously Off-Broadway and regionally around the country. Felder, in fact, wrote the script based on immense research. Every scripted word comes from quotes Chopin was known to have made or the observations of his most intimate friends.
“Monsieur Chopin” runs a little under two hours. Intermixed with the detailed, impassioned delivery of stories of Chopin by Chopin, are examples of his piano mastery. He plays whimsically while talking, adding to the timbre and emotional temperature of each story with the piece and style in which he delivers it.
At other times, the performance is more focused and without the distraction of dialogue. At these times Felder’s astounding skill gives us the authentic experience of actually listening to the real Chopin perform his own works.
If this was the extent of the production, it would earn a tremendous recommendation and applause. However, there is one more element that makes the event one of the most memorable in theatre – and one that will be unique and different each and every performance.
At two points in the production, Chopin invites the students at his lesson – the audience – to ask him questions. There is no knowing what questions might come from those seated in attendance.
Natural inclination will probably bring some to ask Chopin about his favorite works of his own writing or who were his favorite composers outside of himself. But truly Felder is operating without a net. There can be questions about his love life, his childhood, or his rivalries and friendships – questions requiring intimate expertise.
Displaying a massive knowledge of Chopin, Felder answers each question in character and in-depth. It is a feat that redefines conventional theatre. As long as there are performers like Felder bring authenticity to the stage, there is no threat that AI can ever replace the entertainment experience humans can provide.
“Monsieur Chopin” requires no knowledge of classical music, much less Chopin himself. You’ll learn everything you need to enjoy the play, during the play.
For instance, Chopin wrote the most famous of funeral marches. His dark foreboding classic is often referred to as the “Death March” or “Funeral March”, however, the piece is formally titled Piano Sonata No. 2.
There is no need to give away the details of Chopin’s life in the form of this review. Part of the fascination of “Monsieur Chopin” is learning the events as presented from Chopin himself. Just know you will be moved. You will be just as moved by the music.
The play is directed by Joel Zwick, whose credits include Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tours. He is most famous for directing the film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” – the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time. Trevor Hay serves as associate director, bringing his own Broadway and Old Globe experience to the mix.
Felder is arguably the premier authority on the creation of in-depth theatrical exploration of specific composers. He has masterfully brought to life such musical icons as George Gershwin, Ludwig von Beethoven, and Irving Berlin. His creation of this evening with Chopin is award-worthy.
Lighting design is by Erik S. Barry and helps define the tone of different moments in the play. Sound design and video design is by production manager Erik Carstensen and is amazing. The videos especially add a subtle brilliance to the experience. Scenic design is by Felder. Like everything else in the show, it is extraordinary.
“Monsieur Chopin – A Play with Music” is presented through May 12 in the exquisite Writers Theatre at 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe. To not experience Hershey Felder in “Monsieur Chopin” is to deprive yourself of greatness. Buy your tickets and go.
Tickets are available online at www.WritersTheatre.org or by calling (847) 242-6000.
Photos courtesy of Writers Theatre.
For more information on Hershey Felder visit www.HersheyFelder.net.
For more reviews visit: Theatre in Chicago – your source for What’s on Stage in the Chicago Area.
