My Backyard

Amadeus has been one of my favorite movies. I’ve always sympatized with Salieri — his ability to recognize greatness, but unable to achieve it. He calls himself the patron saint of mediocrity. As I face mid life, that’s my fear … that the best I could hope for was to be considered good, but not great; excellent but not extraordinary. Of all things, I’d most hate to have my life described as mediocre. But then again, most of us only ever achieve mediocrity — genius by definition is only for the few. I guess that’s why so many can relate to the show.

Mozart and Salieri were contemporaries; in fact, after Mozart’s death, Salieri became the teacher for Mozart’s son, Franz. The strained relationship between Mozart and Salieri became legendary with a short play by Aleksandr Pushkin in 1831 (not long after Salieri’s death in 1825) called, Amadeus and Mozart. The movie we’re most familiar with was based on a play by Peter Shaffer (1979) … and the Baytown Little Theater is producing that play this season … actually, it opens on Friday.

Dwayne, my talented husband, is playing the part of Salieri. F. Murray Abraham won the academy award for best actor for playing this part in the movie. It is by far the most challenging part Dwayne has ever attempted. He’s onstage the whole show; he has many monologues, and quite a few lines in Italian. He has to show the breadth of emotion, be just a little crazy, but credible. He’s doing wonderfully. In fact, the whole show is shaping up very nicely. Yesterday I overheard Mozart practicing the harpsichord

I plan to be at just about every show … I already have tickets reserved for opening night, the middle weekend when my parents are coming to see it, and closing night when Kate will be there.

Tickets are on sale now … call the box office 281-424-7617. Perfomances are Feb 8, 9, 15, 16,22, 23 at 8 PM and Sunday, Feb 17 at 2:30 PM. Tickets cost $12 for adults, and $8 for students. I hope to see you there!

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