Over the years I have seen many different interpretations of this play. The first was almost 4 years ago. In a high school humanities course we watched the movie because it showed both great film technique and Opera. Back then I loved it. I thought the movie was powerful and that the use of flashback was very well done. While I do still love the movie, after reading the play I don't like it as much. I think this is because the play is so much more powerful. This is due to the use of audience directed monoluges.
The second interpretation I saw was last semester. Conor Moroney and Pete Fitzgerald choreographed a dance for MCLA's dance company to the song "Rock Me Amedeus". Their concept was based on the movie. It was complete with dancers playing Salieri and Mozart. While the dance did not, of course, tell the whole story, it was very well done. Since I had already seen the movie I could tell where the story was headed and liked watching it in an abstract way.
Finally, I read the play. I think I am glad that I read the play last, because it changed my opinions of the other ways i had seen the story. I truly enjoyed the play and especially loved the way it was said to be staged. It was a way to keep it realistic while still being able to actually stage these things. However, I was sad that reading it changed my opinion of the pervious veiwings that I had enjoyed so much.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I saw Pete's and Conor's Amadeus last semester as well, and it was very entertaining.
ReplyDeleteI too saw the movie first (back when I was 10 so I didn't understand it as much) and then again after reading the play, however, I enjoyed the movie more this time around. It successfully maintained an entertaining flow despite being three hours long and I have to tip my cap to that accomplishment.
I wouldn't mind seeing the play acted out live though, it'd give me a more complete feeling to the play. Reading plays can only deliver so much.
Rachael,
ReplyDeleteI just finished my own Amadeus post and at the close posed the question of which people preferred, the play or the film.
I find it very interesting, you've said here that you like the play more for the very same reasons that I prefer the film!
I saw the movie this semester before reading the play, and I think that's why I don't like the play better, how Salieri addresses the audience, I think I have his film character embedded in my mind, and the audience-address doesn't seem, to me, to suit his character.
-Aimee
Great posts everyone! There is a fundamental transformation in Salieri's character that happens between versions that you're all picking up on and you're all picking up on it in bits and pieces. The question is ultimately are we dealing with two versions of one character, or two totally different characters?
ReplyDelete