The BroadwayWorld website describes the world premiere of The Pianist as “a poignant theatrical piece brilliantly directed and adapted for the stage by Emily Mann,” which “depicts the impactful story of a family torn apart by the Holocaust and one man’s struggle to survive.”
It adds that “the cast members master their individual roles capturing heartfelt moments along with the stark realities and terrors of the times. Daniel Donskoy is excellent in the demanding role of Władysław Szpilman.”
BroadwayWorld writes in conclusion: ”The Pianist is a significant portrayal of the tyranny that existed during WWII and the horrors of the Holocaust. We predict that this show will have a long life in the theatre and will be appreciated by many audiences in the years to come.”
A reviewer for Out in Jersey magazine says: “The Pianist tells an important story from a fast-receding past, one that should never be forgotten."
The review adds: "While some scenes were heart-stopping, I wish I could have been more moved by it as a whole. The audience at the performance I attended gave the cast a rousing and well-earned ovation, one I believe audiences who attend The Pianist during its run at George Street Playhouse will continue to do. I found The Pianist to be a near-miss; one should go see it and judge for themselves.”
The TheaterMania.com website, meanwhile, headlines its review of the production: “The Pianist fails to give its harrowing story sufficient exposition.”
A critic for NJArts.net writes: “Emily Mann’s production, based on her own new adaptation of Szpilman’s memoirs is as powerful as anything I’ve seen on any stage, in a long time. I couldn’t recommend this show more highly. It will definitely be on my Top 10 list of New Jersey Theater for this year. It may be even be No. 1, though it’s too early to say. But I can pretty much guarantee that no New Jersey play, this year, will have a more important message."
According to The Front Row Center: “A terrific cast has been assembled for this production, including Russian-born actor Daniel Donskoy, who makes his American stage debut as Szpilman, bringing both passion and intelligence to the role.”
The production runs at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center until October 22.
Image: Publicity handout
The Pianist recounts Szpilman’s wartime experience including his miraculous survival in the ruins of Warsaw in the final months of the war thanks to help offered to him by his Polish friends and a German Army officer.
Born in 1911, Szpilman studied piano performance and composition in Warsaw and Berlin. He worked at Polish Radio for four years until September 23, 1939.
On that day, he played the last recital of Chopin’s music in the studio of Polish Radio, which subsequently stopped functioning as a result of German bombings. He was 28 at the time.
Władysław Szpilman. Photo: PAP/Stanisław Dąbrowiecki
After the war, Szpilman served as the director of Polish Radio’s music department for almost two decades and later made world tours with the Warsaw Piano Quintet.
His compositional output includes some 500 songs, many of which became hits, and several symphonic works.
He died in 2000 at the age of 88.
Szpilman’s memoirs were made by Roman Polanski into the Oscar-winning 2002 movie The Pianist, starring Adrien Brody.
(mk/gs)