Noteworthy performances propel Northlight’s ‘2 Pianos, 4 Hands’
“2 Pianos, 4 Hands” — 3.5 stars
In the program for Northlight Theatre’s “2 Pianos, 4 Hands,” about two accomplished pianists pursuing classical music careers, director Rob Lindley notes that very few people manage to live their dreams.
Rather than abandon their dreams, Lindley suggests people adjust them. That is something rivals Ted and Richard have to consider in this poignant, often funny celebration of music and the pursuit of excellence by actor/director/writer/musicians Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt.
The outstanding actor/musicians Adam LaSalle and Matthew McGloin play Ted and Richard in this combination memoir, concert and coming-of-age tale that chronicles their evolution from childhood, where their initial piano lessons consist of playing scales with one finger, to their late teens, where an audition for a prestigious conservatory determines their futures.
Impeccable in a tuxedo and tails, LaSalle and McGloin (who serves as music director) also play eccentric music teachers, anxious parents and dispassionate adjudicators in scenes that recount in detail the discipline and sacrifice a music career demands.
We see them as youngsters, skipping practice to hang out with friends; as adolescent rivals competing against each other; as teenagers arguing with their parents about making music a career; and as young men confronting the harsh reality that desire and dedication might not be enough to succeed in the music biz.
For anyone who ever seriously considered an arts career, the impassioned scene in the more subdued second act between LaSalle’s Ted and his father (McGloin) rings achingly familiar. Concerned about his son’s piano obsession and slipping grades, Ted’s dad demands he study more, insisting he go to college to “have something to fall back on.” Ted, who seemingly has his eye on a conservatory, claims he doesn’t need college to become a concert pianist and accuses his father of doubting him.
“You think I’m going to fail at the only thing I love,” he says, disappointment palpable.
Two grand pianos dominate Tianxuan Chen’s minimalist set. Suspended above them is a large, kinetic sculpture suggesting deconstructed musical notation. Clever.
Lindley neatly balances the play’s droll humor with enough madcap antics to keep things interesting. But it’s the musicality of Northlight’s production that dazzles. Credit for that rests with its supremely talented stars, who play everything from “Heart and Soul” and “Chopsticks” to concertos and sonatas by J.S. Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Frédéric Chopin to a whimsical medley featuring snippets of Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets,” Vince Guaraldi’s “Linus And Lucy,” Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” and Fred Rogers’ theme to “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” and other pop classics.
There are some wrenching moments involving hard decisions and bittersweet realizations that not everyone gets to live their dreams.
And yet, the play concludes on a joyful note with Ted and Richard’s glorious duet on the first movement of Bach’s Concerto in D minor, confirmation that adjusting one’s dream doesn’t mean abandoning one’s passion.
• • •
Location: Northlight Theatre, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, (847) 673-6300, northlight.org
Showtimes: 1 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday through Aug. 11. No 7:30 p.m. show Aug. 7
Tickets: $49-$89
Running time: About 2 hours, 20 minutes, with intermission
Parking: Free in the adjacent lot
Rating: For most audiences, includes some adult subject matter