Notes of Brilliance, Notes of Jealousy

Matt Daniels as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus at Skylight Music Theatre. Photo credit: Mark Frohna.

A review of Amadeus

by Ava Sabel, age 15

Have you ever heard of the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? The answer is most likely yes. But have you heard of the composer Antonio Salieri? The answer is most likely no. Amadeus at Skylight Music Theatre is a drama-filled play that embodies themes of fame, the rise and fall of success in music composition, and envy. Throughout the play, Salieri takes the audience on a journey through his perspective, revealing how his jealousy led him to the present. I appreciated the moments of brilliance in both the performances and the compelling storyline, which vividly captured the destructive power of jealousy.

I would like to start by highlighting the two main actors in this production, Matt Daniels (Salieri) and Zach Thomas Woods (Mozart). These two did a fantastic job portraying contrasting characters. I especially enjoyed how Woods played Mozart in a way that showed how nothing could bring his energy down, particularly when he was immersed in music. Daniels, on the other hand, portrayed Salieri with a constant air of envy that was always simmering beneath the surface. That tension helped move the story forward and made his narration compelling.

Another notable performance came from Rachael Zientek, who brought great depth to her character, Constanze. In Act One, she was goofy and lighthearted, but in Act Two, you could clearly see her shift to a level of seriousness with goals, fears, and sadness intertwined. Her emotional growth and intensity added another powerful layer to the story.

One aspect I especially appreciated was the live onstage orchestra. It would have been easy to use recorded tracks, so I admired the choice to feature live musicians. It was exciting to watch them perform, dressed in period attire, and they sounded beautiful. At the beginning of the show, I wondered if their presence might become distracting when they weren’t actively playing, but they blended seamlessly into the production without drawing unnecessary attention. 

Something I was initially a little disappointed by was how little the ensemble appeared onstage. At times, it felt like they could be unnecessary. However, there were scenes, particularly those involving party guests or larger gatherings, where their presence enhanced the scale and impact of the moment. While occasionally they seemed to function more like a moving set crew, their contributions still supported the storytelling.

Overall, as I have mentioned in past reviews, I am not usually a huge fan of straight plays. However, this production fully captured my attention and even sparked my interest in learning more about Mozart and Salieri. Kudos to Skylight Music Theatre’s Amadeus for a captivating production that I would highly recommend to anyone who appreciates masterful storytelling and unforgettable performances.