Richard Greenblatt and Ted Dykstra are the aspiring Canadian concert pianists who created the musical comedy Two Pianos Four Hands. Its title is a revamp of the term “piano four hands,” a term used to describe a duet. Each piano nerd has their own piano in the play, so the correct reference is they are a piano duo. Greenblatt (Playwright) is an actor, director, writer, and musician who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England. He and Dykstra were the original performers for this play. Dykstra (Playwright) is the co-creator of 2 Pianos 4 Hands. He is a graduate of The National Theatre School of Canada. He has acted, directed, written, and or composed for every major theatre in Canada and internationally.
Actors Adam LaSalle and Matthew McGloin have the daunting task of playing the OGs, Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt, respectively. This is not an easy task; however, they will impress and delight you with their piano-playing prowess while trading stories of pushy parents, eccentric teachers, endless practice, and dreams of stardom. LaSalle and McGloin are masters of a diverse repertoire and play different genres, from classical to pop, jazz, and rock. Over twenty pieces are featured. You have classics like Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Duvernoy, Grieg, Liszt, Mozart, and Schubert played exquisitely. They play Hoagy Carmichael’s jazz tune “Heart and Soul” and Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” Richard Rogers/ Lorenz Hart’s “My Funny Valentine” and a medley of Pop Tunes cheerfully. Their comic antics and comments on the characters who influenced their career direction will have you laughing out loud, as was most of the audience on opening night.
Under the superb direction of Artist Director B.J. Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans Northlight Theatre has wisely extended the 2 Pianos 4 Hands run due to a high ticket demand for this justifiably popular venue. The Northlight creative team has done a bang-up job setting just the right mood for this production. Director Rob Lindley, who won a Jeff 2003 Best Actor award, hits all the right notes with his direction. Clare Simon’s CSA casting is perfection. How did you find the extraordinarily talented McGloin and LaSalle with their multiple skill sets? Matthew McGloin, a triple threat, excels as a pianist and actor extraordinaire and is a phenomenal music director. Tianxuan Chen’s contemporary graphic set design is restrained elegance. Emma Deane has just the right contemporary, subtle light design. Thank you to Rick Sims for the magnificent sound design, which is so critical to this work. A Shout Out to Freddie Greenburg, Dan Pinkert, Nan Greenburg, and Dr. Alan Zunamon for supporting this marvelous production.
On opening night, I expected comedy, not intense drama and struggle, as the two pianists found their way from the crushing reality of not achieving greatness and settling for less than their aspirations of achieving international stardom. It’s funny, but they went on a different path, writing the play and achieving greatness in that genre.
The parent relationships in Act One were real, sometimes humorous, and other times intensely cringeworthy from the raging, berating, father-son arguments. It brought me back to my days as a parochial student in fear of being less than and not worthy under autocratic rule. It may not be aesthetically pleasing, but trust me, you learn very well under fear. Other patrons shared nostalgic memories of their own piano lessons gone awry and the drama surrounding their children’s reluctance to practice their piano skills despite their parents’ pushing and pleading. The physical comedy was great. I really enjoyed the second act more than the first. I did not always catch the humor in Act One. Some of the piano’s nomenclature that other patrons seemed to understand profoundly went right over my head.
Northlight Theatre, designed by Boston architect Graham Gund, is currently housed in the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts at 9501 Skokie Boulevard in Skokie. It is an intimate, comfortable setting with 318 seats around a three-quarter thrust stage. Regularly priced Adult tickets range from $39 – $89 depending upon seat location and performance day. This is a show you could enjoy again and again. Please get in touch with Northlight Theatre online or call +1 (847) 673-6300 for more information.
Photos: Courtesy of Liz Lauren and Cathy Taylor Public Relations, Inc.
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Loved the show! Thanks for putting titles on the music.