*****

FOR cheering to break out at the end of a particularly long play at the Grange is a rare occur­rence, but it was richly deserved by a splendid cast who presented Peter Shaffer's enthralling story with aplomb. 
And while the title refers to the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the action is dominated by Ian Eaton, playing the brilliant young man's jealous rival Antonio Salieri, Court composer for the Emperor of Austria in the late 18th century.  Eaton's performance in a play which runs for nearly three hours is nothing short of re­markable, and he even manages to include little bursts of Italian here and there to add to the authenticity. 
Set in Vienna, the story suggests that Salieri, a highly successful musician, sees the arrival of Mozart on the scene as a dangerous intrusion by a vulgar young upstart, and sets about undermining him. 
Adam Worton is also excellent as the giggling, mischievous Mozart, particularly in the final scenes where, battling against illness, and desperately poor, he dies prematurely after writ­ing his famous Requiem, and Salieri realises, too late, the error of his ways.  Eaton excels in all aspects of his towering performance, at times addressing the audience and displaying a range of perfect expressions to suit the occasion. He is totally convincing in demonstrating how - according to the author - Salieri leads the poverty-stricken Mozart to believe he is trying to help him while in fact plotting to damage his exciting career. 
Despite promising his maker to lead a blameless life if his musical ambitions are fulfilled, the cunning Salieri is seen as a devious character who even comes close to adding Mozart's wife, Constanze as a notch on his quill. 
Anneka Johnson impresses as Constanze, and Lin Minh Tran is a delight as opera singer Katherina Cavalieri, a very attractive love target for both men. 
Other key roles are confidently played by David Stone (Count Franz Orsini-Rosenberg), Terry Atkinson (Baron Gottfried van Sweiten), Alex Barzdo (Count Johann Kilian von Strack) and Christopher Waters (Emperor of Austria). 
Period costumes and props, the clever use of harpsichord music which the two men appear, at times, to be playing on stage, plus the stunning make-up of the four rumour-mongering Venticello (Becki Jay, Zoe Maisey, Tomos Frater and, at late notice, Dario Biedma Coleman), add considerbaly to the enjoyment. 
Full marks, too, for stage manager Rosemary Manjunath and her team - all dressed in pe­riod costume - for the smoothness and unobtrusive skill of the operation to switch furniture and other props during the action. 
This extremely challenging play is superbly directed by Julie Lomas and produced by Rachel Waters. To 19.11.11

Paul Marston