The Hunchback Variations Opera (re-christened The Hunchback Variations: A Chamber Opera for its stay on the East Coast) has just completed a very fun and successful month-long run at the wonderful 59E59 Theater in Manhattan. This New York run of the show was produced by Brian W. Parker Productions, in association with Theater Oobleck and 59E59. Thanks Brian! Thanks 59E59!
Mark Blankenship did a wonderful interview with the singers, George Andrew Wolff and Larry Adams, in TDF Stages, linked here, and Playbill covered the gala opening night party here.
The audiences were wonderful, the reviews were terrific. Here are excerpts from and links to some of them.
Photo: Carol Rosegg
Adam Feldman writes in his 4 out of 5 star review in TimeOut New York
“Engrossing… Maher’s witty libretto … has been set to deliberative music by Mark Messing that draws out its mysteries in cunning shifts of style, tempo and tone… The Hunchback Variations scores a haunting success while exalting a space for failure.”
Andy Propst in Backstage
“Thoroughly riveting … A remarkably poignant exploration of the painfully ephemeral nature of the artistic process and life itself… Paul Ghica (cello) and Christopher Sargent (piano) play it with beautiful delicacy, while the graceful tenor Wolff and the commandingly powerful bass-baritone Adams glide with precision over some exceptionally tricky melodic lines.”
Trish Vignola in Broadway World
“Larry Adams as Quasimodo and George Andrew Wolff as Beethoven were great… As usual, Chicago leads the way with some of the most innovative original theatre in the United States today. The Hunchback Variations is an exploration of the artistic process and the tragic humor that often befalls an artist. I’m glad it made its way to New York.”
Susan Hall in Berkshire Fine Arts
“It is easy to understand why theaters around the world have produced revivals of Oobleck’s plays. The originality and the profound talent of the actors and musicians are alone worth a visit. That your mind tangles and dissects the fun and the conundrums as both actors sing beautifully is an added treat. In this take in New York, the absurd situation is full of touching and rollicking humor. And the opera is curiously and absurdly moving.”
Ed Malin in NYTheatre.com
…a hilarious evening… the text itself blew me away.”
And Kenneth Jones, Managing Editor of Playbill, wrote on Twitter:
“Loved Hunchback Variations … An absurd and often touching musical rumination on the sisyphean work of artists.”