Playwright Itamar Moses, 27, has reinvigorated theater with a contemporary 'fugue of schemes' that just ended its first run at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
"Bach at Leipzig," an energetic and riveting postmodern composition, encompasses parody and prestige in a competition for organ master in Leipzig in 1722. Seven men are summoned to attend the funeral of Johann Kuhnau, organ master at the Church of St. Thomas, and also compete to replace him. Because this is one of the most prestigious jobs in Europe's musical world, things become a bit sticky.
Loosely based on historical fact, the plot unfolds as all the men meet one another and engage in a circle of various schemes in which each man bribes, blackmails and uses his own political connections in attempt to force withdrawal from his competitors.
Each musician has a feisty demeanor all his own. Georg Martin Steindorff (Gerard Neugent) is a whimsical young gent who had dreams of becoming a dancer until he settled for the keyboard. He's in Leipzig to prove to his father he is worthy of the family name.
On the other hand, Johann Friedrich Fasch, played by fellow Rep resident actor Torrey Hanson, is the first face of the play and believes he was summoned to Leipzig to be immediately named successor to the organ master throne of St. Thomas Church. This seemingly reserved man loyal to his wife and music argues for innovation of music and religion in following the changing tastes of the people, while some of the other competitors couldn't disagree more.
Annie Jurczyk, Rep public relations manager, explains the story as an 18th century version of the popular TV show "Survivor," which seems to discredit the intellectual competence of Moses' creation.
Clever religious and philosophical wordplay and profound existential questions dealing with destiny, tradition and progress, among many others, are camouflaged in this meta-theatrical production. The answers to these questions are not considered, however, because according to Moses, questions worthy enough to build a play on probably can't be answered, and it's probably a mistake to try.
Pam MacKinnon, a New York-based director who specialized in new and contemporary work, directed this "first ever" production of "Bach" at the Rep. Resident acting company members Lee E. Ernst, Hanson and James Pickering, along with four other actors frequent to the Rep, are costumed in full-wigged, elaborate period pieces.
Moses, originally from Berkeley, Calif., but now living in Brooklyn, N.Y., received a bachelor's degree in humanities from Yale, a master's in dramatic writing from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and has also taught playwriting at both universities. He has also been commissioned to write three new plays for significant theaters across the county including Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club. Reminder: he's 27 years old.
Overall, this wonderfully entertaining play gives theater a new vitality — literally. It is an artistic and cerebral triumph that has undoubtedly opened many doors for Moses and contemporary theater as a whole.
Grade: A
This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on April 7 2005.