Bach at Leipzig

This might be the best play we've seen at Taproot Theatre! It engages the mind and tickles the funny bone. Attendees were buzzing with their favorites one-liners, chuckling as we left the show.

"The more you know, the more you are rewarded," exclaimed my husband as we walked to the car.

Honestly, it didn't sound very exciting from the description and I wasn't sure we'd enjoy it. Were we happily surprised! The 2 1/2 hour play, Bach at Leipzig by Itamar Moses, was a romp through the pretensions of ambition and twists of personality. From accidental drug overdoses to backstabbings to romantic alliances, the playwright had us doubled over.

The story line? A bunch of organists are vying for the prestigious job of playing at church and leading the music school in Leibzig, Germany. It's 1722, the main organist has just died, and six musicians descend to grab for the power and prestige that they hope comes from the post.

• the habitual pickpocket and forger
• the legalist who wants to stick to tradition
• the innovator who wants change
• the playboy who collects and discards his mistresses
• the bumbling diplomat
• the "always-second-in-line" wanna-be

If you've ever been in hot competition for a job or watched others form and undo alliances to get promoted, you'll recognize the funny business satirized in this play. Mind you, a beautiful description of a fugue and lots of other historical snippets are crammed between the hijinks.

We laughed through the shenanigans of political alliances, musical references, religious infighting, and cultural insights. Running gags sped along like a Bach invention, including spoofs on names, satires on stereotypes, and cleverly repeated motivs. (Each musician exclaims, "If only         , I could be the greatest organist ever." Sure. Sure.)

The costumes are wonderful, the lighting and narration superb - this play kept a steady pace; we were leaning forward in our seats to see what on earth the next twists and turns could be. Just when we thought we'd figured it out, off they went again!

The body acting is hilarious: we howled through the sword-fighting scene. You won't know what to expect next! The surprises keep coming.

I especially recommend it to:

• those who love satire or sarcasm (the humor never stops) 
• the ambitious (it will teach you to leave your pretensions behind)
• the academic or historian (the historical fiction is mind-boggling)
• the musician or music student (you'll recognize most of the musical references and maybe learn some new ones). This is one a music teacher could happily recommend to students!
• the playwright or storyteller (for the clever language and compelling tale)
• those who just want a fun night out, this will do it.

The play runs through June 15. Don't miss it! Click here for tickets.

Tickets provided the reviewer by Taproot. All photos by Erik Stuhaug.

Go see this show!

I love going to Taproot Theatre and am looking forward to a show on the weekend. I'll let you know how it goes. Here's the info for all you Wodehouse and Jeeves and Wooster fans:

Photo by Eric Stuhaug

Jeeves in Bloom at Taproot Theatre

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 03:08 AM PST

The press release said: “Laugh away the winter blues with P.G. Wodehouse’s classic characters in Jeeves in Bloom.” I had to try – you know. January can be the longest month of the year, and I was about done. So, Saturday night, my husband and I kicked off February, used the tickets provided by Taproot...
Read More »

Close to life - a day out with Tartuffe at Taproot Theatre

We laughed, we moaned. After the first five minutes of dialogue, if I could have, I would have smacked Tartuffe before I even met him on stage.

I took time off from studies for Tartuffe, a play at Taproot Theatre. Tartuffe is a charlatan who worms his ways into the graces of a hot-tempered, not-too-thoughtful nobleman. The chaos he brings to the household had the audience leaning forward on their seats. By the second half, we were groaning, chuckling, and listening to our neighbors' whispers, as they advised the actors on how to deal with Tartuffe.

The satirical morality play, banned by the Church until the playwright's sovereign intervened, felt a little close to reality for me. Especially, after various televangelist scandals, hearing about hucksters who claim to be holy, and the historical parallels I've read about in my studies.

Taproot Theatre, with limited resources and actors, stretches its facility and personnel with great plays and thoughtful performances. Karen Lund produced the show, which had excellent casting. Tartuffe's comedic presence depends on body language as well as verse. We enjoyed watching the actors "standing by," as well as those who were speaking. Their physical comedy engaged us and drew us into the action. In particular, Ruth McRee as Madame Pernelle, and Charity Parenzini as the servant Dorine, captured my attention in the first scene and held it to their last lines.

Oh, the costumes. The costumes. Beautiful, especially in the intimate space that showed off the details of dresses and doublets.

I'd recommend the play for college students and young adults who value integrity (you'll recognize the opposite in the self-serving Tartuffe). Mature adults, who have "seen it all" in religious and political communities, will be shaking your heads, thinking of your own roster of names as you watch the hapless being taken in, the friends and family who advise, and the deceiver who passes as devout. Though the play resolved abruptly, we talked about Tartuffe through dinner and all the way home.

Well worth the price of a ticket (click here), -- especially if you take time to talk afterwards!

Tartuffe, by Molière, translated into English verse by Richard Wilbur
Directed by Karen Lund

WHEN: February 1-March 3 (Wednesday-Thursday, 7:30 pm; Friday-Saturday, 8 pm; Saturday matinees, 2 pm)

Dates to note:
Pay What You Can: February 8, 7:30 pm
Senior Matinee: February 15, 2 pm
Student Matinee: February 7, 10 am
Post-play Discussions: Wednesday nights, excluding preview

WHERE: Taproot Theatre Company, 204 North 85th Street, Seattle, WA 98103

TICKETS: Tickets are available online at www.taproottheatre.org/buy-tickets/ and through Taproot Theatre’s box office, in person or by phone at 206.781.9707. Tickets range from $22-37, depending on the performance. Taproot offers a $5 senior/student discount off regular priced tickets. $15 tickets are available for ages 25 and under. Tickets for the senior matinee are $20. Discounts are available for parties of 8 or more through Group Sales; call 206.781.9708. Tickets for the pay-what-you-can performance are available day of show at the box office only; contact the box office for details.

Note: Taproot provided complimentary tickets to the reviewer, but we bought an extra to accommodate our party. No regrets!