Diablo Review: 2 Pianos, 4 Hands

Center REP’s two-man "musical comedy" hits all the right notes.

I play piano.  I can stumble through a duet of “Heart and Soul,” name the notes of the treble and bass clefs, and pluck out a sparse rendition of the Jeopardy theme.  Okay, okay, maybe I won’t become a concert pianist anytime soon…

But the stars of Center REP’s play 2 Pianos, 4 Hands really can tickle the ivories. Mark Anders and Carl J. Danielsen breeze through Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin as they portray two musical prodigies from childhood to adulthood—as well as all their parents, teachers, and friends.  The two actor-musicians are wildly talented, moving gracefully from physical comedy to piano concertos, from distracted seven-year-olds to quirky instructors.

The main characters, Richard (played by Danielsen) and Ted (played by Anders), are actually fictionalized versions of the show’s co-authors: Richard Greenblatt and Ted Dykstra. The two grew up as musical prodigies and pursued careers in show business, where they met and compared notes on their piano student days.  Those experiences became 2 Pianos, 4 Hands, which debuted in Toronto in 1994 and has become one of Canada’s most successful theater productions with more than 5,000 performances to date.

As ever-piano-practicing youth, Ted learns to count time using dollars and bits, and Richard tries to master correct fingering—his hands flopping all over the keys.  They come together for a duet that quickly dissolves into hilarious competitiveness, with Ted demanding extra time to turn pages of sheet music and Richard playing practical jokes with the piano bench.

For both characters, adolescence brings concerns about balanced social lives and expanding musical interests (insert Elton John melody here). And with adulthood comes the big question: stick with the dream of a piano career, or leave it.

Anyone who has taken music lessons will love 2 Pianos, 4 Hands, but its appeal is so much more broad.  Through music and comedy, the play explores universal themes of dreams, regret, and parent-child relationships.  And as giggling young audience members on opening night prove, it’s a production for the whole family.

Through February 28, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek, $29–$41, (925) 943-7469, lesherartscenter.com.
 

Posted at 03:56 PM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink