A Standing Ovation Well-Deserved

2 Pianos 4 Hands

Every show I attend nowadays, regardless of the quality, makes the audience feel obligated to reward it with a standing ovation. For that reason, I’m personally reluctant to surrender to peer pressure and jump to my feet at the end of every musical or play. But I promise you, the play currently onstage at Northlight Theatre, is such a brilliantly-written and performed production that this is that rare exception. On opening night, everybody rose to their feet, even before the curtain call began, cheering and clapping with respect and adoration. This is one show that I truly guarantee deserves a standing ovation.

Known throughout the music world, Richard Greenblatt and Ted Dykstra are two gifted, self-professed “piano nerds” from Canada. Now they’ve added “respected playwrights” to their resumes with this, their brilliantly written and performed autobiographical play-with-music. The talented duo are realistically portrayed here by the extraordinarily talented Matthew McGloin (Richard) and Adam LaSalle (Ted). The two play the musician/playwrights from child prodigies to the brilliantly accomplished adults they are today. 

Throughout the play, in addition to portraying Richard and Ted at various ages and stages of their lives, Mr. McGloin and Mr. LaSalle also play a variety of piano teachers, parents and the dour directors of two preeminent musical institutions. Within the two-hour production, Matthew and Adam prove that they’re not only smart, masterful virtuosos at the keyboard but adept actors, as well. Each performer demonstrates his flair for comedy, but is able to seamlessly shift between the hilarious and the dramatic, as well.

The dynamic duo demonstrate that they aren’t only masters of classical music. True, a large portion of the evening samples the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Schubert and J.S. Bach, whose Concerto in D minor provides the stirring finale to this production. But we’re also treated to the likes of Hoagy Carmichael’s “Heart and Soul,” “My Funny Valentine” by Rodgers & Hart, Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets,” John Lennon’s lovely “Imagine,” Vangelis’ Olympic theme from “Chariots of Fire,” “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin, Jerry Lee Lewis’ toe-tapping “Great Balls of Fire” and even the delightfully familiar strains of piano jazz entitled “Linus and Lucy,” from the Peanuts television cartoon.

This production is directed by a master of Chicago Theatre. Actor and Director Rob Lindley tenderly and wisely guides his two talented actors, bringing out all the humor and pathos of their life stories. Matthew McCloin does double duty as Music Director, while Tianxuan Chen’s simple Set Design focuses on two baby grand pianos, with some detailed flooring and a backdrop of giant musical notations floating high above the stage. Costume Design is courtesy of Jos N. Banks (currently starring in THE HOT WING KING at Writers Theatre), Rick Sims provides a finely-tuned Sound Design and Emma Deane’s Lighting Design brilliantly highlights the comedy, drama and musical moments of this production.

Gifted pianists, directors, actors and teachers, now turned playwrights, Richard Greenblatt and Ted Dykstra are the subjects of this entertaining two-hander. Through their terrific portrayal by the equally talented duo of Matthew McGloin and Adam LaSalle, the difficult and challenging life of an artist comes into focus for the audience. Their stories of growth and development are told with humanity, humor and a degree of poignance, set to the music of both the classical and popular songbooks. This is a production that’ll absolutely inspire audiences to leap to their feet with gratitude. Both honest and artistically magnificent, 2 PIANOS 4 HANDS is definitely worthy of a standing ovation that seems to never end.    

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented July 5-August 11 by Northlight Theatre, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the theatre box office, by calling 847-673-6300, or by going to www.northlight.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.