Amadeus Reviews
Los Angeles Times- Highly Recommended
"...No surprise, then, that the revival of “Amadeus” that opened Sunday at Pasadena Playhouse is a marvel to behold. Contained within Alexander Dodge’s lush red set, Tresnjak’s production moves between the rococo grandeur of Emperor Joseph II’s court and a kind of interior hellscape, where Salieri, the play’s guide and scheming rival of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, can recall the mischief he wrought against the young upstart perversely blessed with a divine spark of genius."
Stage and Cinema- Highly Recommended
"...At Pasadena Playhouse, under the direction of Darko Tresnjak, with Jefferson Mays as Salieri and Sam Clemmett as Mozart, the play sheds its accumulated reputation as a costume drama warhorse and reveals itself again as what it always was: a parable about the silence of God, dressed up in wigs and Rococo gilt. It is, in fact, the most thrilling American staging of Amadeus in a generation."
Stage Scene LA- Highly Recommended
"...Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays and West End/Bridgerton breakout star Sam Clemmett burn up the stage in what may well be the most sumptuous production in Pasadena Playhouse history in Darko Tresnjak’s stunning take on Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus."
TheaterMania- Highly Recommended
"...Amadeus, Peter Shaffer’s memorable play of talent and envy, is an absolute treat, as filling as Austrian meringue and as challenging as Kafka. Jefferson Mays leads this tour-de-force production with humor, grace, and a delicious degree of malice."
Colorado Boulevard- Highly Recommended
"...Watching him on stage is to be led through a story’s twists as if guided by a hidden compass. One of those treasures was the brilliant performance of rising star Sam Clement as the title character, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The gripping battle between Sam and Jefferson, two composers striving for greatness, felt like a tug-of-war on my moral heartstrings."
Ticket Holders LA- Highly Recommended
"...Beyond the significant wonder of Shaffer’s Amadeus, there’s one major reason not to miss this spectacular presentation before it leaves Pasadena for what I believe will be a celebrated future. No, even I am not old enough to have seen Nazimova as Hedda Gabler in 1926 or when she first performed the role 20 years earlier, but for the rest of my life I will be incredibly grateful to have seen Jefferson Mays make what I suspect will be theatrical history for his portrayal as Antonio Solieri."
Larchmont Buzz- Highly Recommended
"...When it comes to playwrights, the name Peter Shaffer might not ring a bell. However, he is unmistakable in creating characters that explore very real emotions (think Equus). Currently playing at the Pasadena Playhouse, Amadeus highlights the fictionalized rivalry between composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. This dramedy explores themes of jealousy, penance, and how perceived mediocrity is a plague worse than death."
Nerds Of Color- Recommended
"...My Immediate impressions were strong once the play starts kicks off in high gear as director Darko Tresnjak weaved an immaculate world with an extraordinary creative team and Jefferson Mays commanding so much presence on stage despite starting off in his character Salieri's older and decrepit self. The set design from Alexander Dodge was absolutely breathtaking and throughout the entire performance, I kept admiring the three dimensional effect of the royal hallways and the beautiful set pieces coupled with the gorgeous lighting design from Pablo Santiago."
Broadway World- Recommended
"...Director Darko Tresnjak has crafted a visually-appealing world that unfortunately reduces the action of the play to broad strokes enacted in a toy theatre. At times, Mays’ Salieri seems to be railing against a Baroque, red and gold void that feels so tied up in lampooning the mores of court etiquette that it neglects the human rivalry at the heart of the play."