CharPo's Picture of the Week, May 19, 2011

(This caption has been corrected) The gorgeous set and lighting for Geordie's Beethoven Lives Upstairs

(l: Lucinda Davis Quincy Armorer, Alex McCooeye)

Our reviewer, Amy Barratt, called it, "Fine theatre by any standard."

(Photo: David Babcock. Click photo for larger version.)

Review: Beethoven Lives Upstairs

Lucinda Davis, Alex Macooeye

(photo: David Babcock)

Bustin’ Out Some Beethoven

Holy Schroeder!

by Amy Barratt

For the final offering in its 30^th anniversary “celebrating art” season, Geordie productions has chosen a play about a Classical composer dead nigh unto 200 years. Wow, Dean Patrick Fleming, way to appeal to the Mario Kart generation.

Of course, Artistic Director Fleming, like Charles Schultz’s toy-piano playing prodigy, knows better than to try to compete with whatever  technology or fad the kids are chewing up and spitting out this week. Geordie has always understood that to cultivate  an audience you just have to make the best theatre you can, as theatrically as you can.

Beethoven Lives Upstairs is fine theatre by any standard. From the dramatic lighting by Thomas Godefroid, to the minimal but highly effective set by James Lavoie, to Amy Keith’s costumes to the intricate puppets designed and built by Jesse Orr, Beethoven is a delight to the eye. Peter Cerone’s sound design works in many of Ludwig’s greatest hits alongside crying babies and crashing thunder.