“I’m only my brother’s pupil.”
Once upon time before my foray into theatre, I was a singer who studied music and eventually majored in music for 2 years before I realized that it wasn’t my calling. My inspiration: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He’s my favorite composer. He’s brilliant.
I was sad that I missed The Other Mozart when it premiered last year especially since I was in the audience when the creator and performer, Sylvia Milo, and her team, won two New York Innovative Theatre Awards. So when I learned that it was being reprised with fellow indie theatre artist, Jody Christopherson, I was getting to The Players!
I wasn’t disappointed. It was worth the wait. The Other Mozart is about the sister of Amadeus, Nannerl Mozart, a virtuoso and accomplished composer in her own right whose story was lost to the annals of time. The solo performance art piece is set in and on a majestic and imperial 18-foot dress which fills the stage. It is on and in this dress, that Jody Christopherson beautifully and poignantly engages the audience with this haunting story of Nannerl’s life: the talented sister who accompanied her genius brother on tour throughout Western Europe; the daughter who was both praised and subjugated as well as touted and urged to be domesticated by her parents; the wife who became a baroness to raise his children and then hers in the wilderness.
Under the flawless direction of Isaac Byrne, the music created by Nathan Davis and Phyllis Chen supported the narrative laid out by Christopherson. The costume designs by Magdalena Dabrowaka and Miodrag Guberinic are art pieces and will inspire any artist who sees this show.
For me, I wish I knew about Nannerl when I was growing up. Instead of writing an essay on Mozart, I wrote a 20 page poem based on his life when I was in high school. My recollection of her being mentioned all those years ago are vague. And how apropos and timely this piece is in the climate we are enduring. A feminist manifesto of how it was for women and how fortunate we are today.
Show Info:
Little Matchstick Factory presents:
The Other Mozart: the forgotten story of Mozart’s genius sister
Written by Sylvia Milo
Directed by Isaac Byrne
Performances Sept 23 – Nov 13 and Jan 6 – 9 at the Players Theatre
Performed (in rotation) by Sylvia Milo, Samantha Hoefer, Daniela Galli and introducing Jody Christopherson*
Location:
The Players Theater is located at 115 MacDougal Street, 3rd floor, no elevator (b/w Bleecker and West 3rd Streets). A/B/C/D/E/F/M trains to West 4th Street stop.
Tickets: $45-$65 available online at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/277 or by calling866-811-4111. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theatre’s box office 1⁄2 hour prior to performance. Student tickets $15 available at the door.
More info at: http://www.theOtherMozart.com
Malini Singh mcdonald 