Opus is a new play, being done soon by Theatreworks:
Eliot: “I know what ma non troppo means.”
Alan: “Well that was clearly troppo. It sounds like we’re smothering a baby.”
No, Davis and the other actors don’t really play instruments on stage. But they have worked very hard to make it look as if they are doing so.
“I think it would be the greatest if I could play a violin,” said Davis. “I am very humbled even just to replicate the bowing.”
“We have a fabulous quartet consultant,” said McDonough, “Kris Yenney. She has worked in our orchestra. She put together a recording of a string quartet so the actors can see what it looks like. It’s incredibly intricate. It helps with understanding the soul of how the music works.”
The play, says Davis, is full of “intense moments of living.
I know Kris! Fine cellist, and fun person, too!
Hmmm. Maybe I should check out the play. I’ve attended Theatreworks … I think twice, but maybe it was only once. I know I saw Sondheim there … what the heck was it, though? Let’s see, I’ve seen “Into the Woods” and “Follies” live. I saw a high school production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”, a fabulous UC Irvine production of “Sunday in the Park with George”, and an awful (truly embarrassing) college production of “Merrily We Roll Along”. I’ve played in “Sweeney Todd”, “A Little Night Music” and “Pacific Overtures”. Ramble ramble … oh! It was “Into the Woods”, I believe, that Theatreworks did. And it was great. So maybe I’ll get back there and see this play about musicians. I have to confess, though, that I’m always leery of movies about musicians, and a play might be even more difficult for me to get into. And the “Sex, Drugs and Classical Music” tag doesn’t exactly draw me in. Read that already. (Hi Blair!)
And … here’s Kris!:
