SCR/Party Play with Ann Conway

Playwright Itamar Moses; David Emmes; Director Art Manke

Actor Erik Sorensen; Ariel Weinberg; her grandmother Elaine Weinberg; Susan and Bob Ehrlich; Gail Doe

Playwright Itamar Moses, center, with visiting playwright Donald Margulies and visiting actor James Eckhouse

'BACH' TALK: "SMART, INTELLIGENT, WITTY!"
By Ann Conway

It isn't every playwright who joins First Nighters to watch his own story unfold. Some twiddle their thumbs over a cool one in the SCR bar. Others remain backstage. Still others lurk in the shadows.

Not so Itamar Moses, 29, whose stunningly precocious and witty Bach at Leipzig opened on the Julianne Argyros Stage Sept. 29. Moses was not only front and center, his delight at the production, directed by Art Manke, was evident in the laughter and applause that rang from his seat. "I wasn't involved in this production at all," Moses said as he mingled with partying theater-goers on Ela's Terrace following the play. "So I'd never seen these actors before. There were things that they did that totally surprised me. It worked! When you think of it, theatre is always about what's happening right now. So, even as the author of the play, I'm experiencing it anew, in an immediate situation."

The 'dramedy,' continuing through Oct. 15, weaves the fast-paced tale of the search for an organ-master at Leipzig's esteemed Thomaskirchce in 1722. The position ultimately went to Johann Sebastian Bach, but not before seven other hopefuls made a run for the post. In Moses' take on the historic event, the resident organmaster has played his final fugue, dying with his face flat against the keyboard. At the news, scheming musicians from across Germany dash to town to audition for the coveted post, while Bach lays low. "I thought the idea of having to compete against Bach for an organist post was inherently funny and dramatic, " Moses said, as fans gathered around to congratulate him. "But as it turned out, he wasn't the most famous organist in Germany at the time, so the others have no idea there's a genius in their midst. It took years for me to get it right!"

A delighted Paula Tomei, SCR Managing Director, called the production "smart, intelligent, witty!" "It had an element of silliness, which I love," she continued. Not to mention "the cleverness of the writing, and the fact that the stories of the seven organists wanting the post are interwoven so well. The actors acted their socks off, did a beautiful job. The direction was exquisite.

Observed David Emmes, producing artistic director of SCR: "It's great to see a play where you have to keep your attention fully riveted on the language. I loved all the layers of the story and the payoff Moses gave us as each situation comes home."

Artistic Director Martin Benson dubbed the production "absolutely fabulous and as complex as a Bach fugue. The actors nailed it tonight — hit every note!"

Also on the party scene: Chris and Aletha Anderson, Geoff and Valerie Fearns, Joan Kaloustian, Heather Cho and John Mast.

Larry and Dee Higby with Director Art Manke	Olivia Johnson; Actor Timothy Landfield
Bob and Katie Koster, actor Tony Abatemarco John and Sue Murphy	Borrowing a bow from the play.
Roger Palley and actor Stephen Caffrey	John and Elisabeth Stahr and PSO Executive Director Dean Corey
Elaine Weinberg, actor Erik Sorensen and Elaine's granddaughter Ariel	Playwright Itamar Moses; Larry and Dee Higby; Director Art Manke