Two Pianos Four Hands
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''Two Pianos Four Hands'', also referred to as ''2 Pianos 4 Hands'', is a Canadian
musical comedy Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...
play, written and originally performed by
Ted Dykstra Ted Dykstra is a Canadian playwright and actor. He was born in Chatham-Kent, Ontario in 1961 and grew up in St. Albert, Alberta. He is a founding member of Soulpepper Theatre Company. Writing credits include '' Two Pianos Four Hands'', '' ...
and Richard Greenblatt. It follows Ted and Richard, two boys who aspire to become famous classical
pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...
s. The play follows their journey from childhood, and as the boys grow older, their competitions and music auditions. ''Two Pianos Four Hands'' premiered at the
Tarragon Theatre The Tarragon Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and one of the main centers for contemporary playwriting in the country.
in Toronto in 1996, and has since been staged on five continents and has been regarded as one of the most successful Canadian plays. Based loosely on their own lives, Dykstra and Greenblatt have described ''Two Pianos Four Hands'' as a comedic play that features music and pianos. The show is named after the
piano duet According to the ''Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'', there are two kinds of piano duet: "those for two players at one instrument, and those in which each of the two pianists has an instrument to themself." In American usage the former is ...
term,
piano four hands Piano four hands (french: À quatre mains, german: Zu vier Händen, Vierhändig, it, a quattro mani) is a type of piano duet involving two players playing the same piano simultaneously. A duet with the players playing separate instruments is ...
, which involves two pianists playing the same piano simultaneously. They arrived at the play's name, ''Two Pianos, Four Hands'', since each of the two pianists play their own piano (a piano duo).


Premise

At the start, Ted and Richard are two young boys in Canada with aspirations of becoming world-famous classical pianists. They learn to play the piano and endure pushy parents, eccentric teachers, endless hours of repetitive practice, and stage fright. Gradually, Ted and Richard mature and their skills improve. As the boys befriend and compete with one another, they are also auditioning for music festivals and music conservatories. The boys begin to realize the difference between being 'good' and 'great'. When Ted and Richard are young boys, they alternate performing as solo pianists. Meanwhile, the other plays a
composite Composite or compositing may refer to: Materials * Composite material, a material that is made from several different substances ** Metal matrix composite, composed of metal and other parts ** Cermet, a composite of ceramic and metallic materials ...
of pushy and eccentric adults in the child's life. Later on in the show, both Ted and Richard perform together.


Production history

Dykstra and Greenblatt met in 1993 while working on ''So You Think You're Mozart'', produced by Chamber Concerts Canada. At the encouragement of the associate artistic director of Tarragon Theatre, Andy McKim, the two realized their similar stories and began conceptualizing ideas for the play. In 1994, Dykstra and Greenblatt formed the production company "Talking Fingers" to further develop and workshop the play, which was originally 25 minutes long. After a successful workshop presentation, an expanded 90-minute version of ''Two Pianos Four Hands'' was then added to Tarragon Theatre's 1995-96 main season. During its initial run,
David Mirvish David Mirvish, (born August 29, 1944) is a Canadian art collector, art dealer, theatre producer, real estate developer and son of the late Toronto discount department store owner "Honest" Ed Mirvish and artist Anne Lazar Macklin. Life and caree ...
took notice and encouraged Dykstra and Greenblatt to commercially produce ''Two Pianos Four Hands''. After the play closed at the Tarragon Theatre, it was extended further to 2 hours and embarked on a commercially produced Canadian tour.


Original cast

''Two Pianos Four Hands'' premiered at the Tarragon Theatre, in Toronto, Ontario, with previews starting in April 1996, before officially opening on May 13, 1996. It closed on August 24, 1997, before embarking on a brief Canadian tour. With the support of
David David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
and
Ed Mirvish Edwin "Honest Ed" Mirvish, (July 24, 1914 – July 11, 2007) was an American-Canadian businessman, philanthropist and theatrical impresario who lived in Toronto, Ontario. He is known for his flagship business, Honest Ed's, a landmark disco ...
, ''Two Pianos Four Hands'' transferred to an
off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
theatre. The play opened at the Promenade Theatre on October 30, 1997. The off-Broadway engagement at the Promenade Theatre closed on May 10, 1998, after 231 performances. The show was scheduled to transfer to the
Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...
in
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
; however popular demand led to the play being transferred to another off-Broadway venue. Dykstra and Greenblatt starred in the production at the Kennedy Center, and the subsequent tour stops across Western Canada. In late 1999, Dykstra and Greenblatt embarked on an international tour with ''Two Pianos Four Hands''. This included an extended three-month production, first performed on October 5, 1999, at the
Comedy Theatre The Harold Pinter Theatre, known as the Comedy Theatre until 2011,
in London's West End, and a multi-week engagement in Japan. In 2003, ''Two Pianos Four Hands'' played a special engagement at the
Elgin Theatre The Elgin Theatre can refer to: * Elgin Theatre (Ottawa) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, a former movie cinema that was the first twin cinema in North America * Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada * Elgin Theater, a former mov ...
in Toronto. Beginning in 2011, Dykstra and Greenblatt embarked on a 'farewell tour' with the show. This tour made stops across Canada, including extended stops in Ottawa and Toronto, as well as in major American markets Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington. The final performance was in November 2013 at the
Citadel Theatre The Citadel Theatre is the major venue for theatre arts in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, located in the city's downtown core on Churchill Square. It is the third largest regional theatre in Canada. History It began in a former Salvati ...
in
Edmonton Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...
. In August 2021,
Mirvish Productions Mirvish Productions is a Canadian based theatrical production company and promoter. The company was founded in 1987 by David Mirvish, son of Toronto retailing icon and owner of the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Ed Mirvish. The first assets acquired ...
announced a special limited engagement of ''2P4H'', that will star Dykstra and Greenblatt for the first time since the creators retired from the show in 2013. The show will open at the
Royal Alexandra Theatre The Royal Alexandra Theatre, commonly known as the Royal Alex, is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located near King and Simcoe Street. Built in 1907, the 1,244-seat Royal Alex is the oldest continuously operating legitimate theatre in Nort ...
on June 4, 2022.


Other productions

The 1998 off-Broadway revival was the first time a production of ''Two Pianos Four Hands'' was performed without Dykstra and Greenblatt. The cast included
Andrew Lippa Andrew Lippa (born December 22, 1964) is an American composer, lyricist, book writer, performer, and producer. He is a resident artist at the Ars Nova Theater in New York City. Early life Lippa was born in Leeds, England, to English parents. ...
as Ted and
Jed Rees Jed Rees (born March 8, 1970) is a Canadian actor, best known for his roles in movies such as ''Galaxy Quest'' (1999), '' The Ringer'' (2005), ''Deadpool'' (2016), and '' American Made'' (2017). Early life Rees studied music for two years in co ...
as Richard. Lippa and Rees also continued with the play for its first US national tour in 1998 and 1999. In 2006, another North American tour began, this time starring Tom Frey as Ted and Richard Carsey as Richard. Since Dykstra and Greenblatt's retirement from the show in 2013, several regional productions of ''Two Pianos Four Hands'' have been performed across North America and internationally. In 2019, an extended production of the play opened at the
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is a regional theatre in the United States. It was founded in 1959 by college student Gerald Covell and was one of the first regional theatres in the United States. Located in Eden Park, the first play that pr ...
, which starred Jefferson McDonald and Matthew McGloin. The
National Arts Centre The National Arts Centre (NAC) (french: Centre national des Arts) is a Arts centre, performing arts organisation in Ottawa, Ontario, along the Rideau Canal. It is based in the eponymous National Arts Centre (building), National Arts Centre build ...
in
Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...
also opened a production of the show, which starred Reza Jacobs and Max Roll, and was directed by Greenblatt.


Recordings and other media

The final performance of the 'farewell tour' starring Dykstra and Greenblatt was recorded live at the
Citadel Theatre The Citadel Theatre is the major venue for theatre arts in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, located in the city's downtown core on Churchill Square. It is the third largest regional theatre in Canada. History It began in a former Salvati ...
in November 2013, and released for sale in early 2014. On April 6, 2021, it was announced that the filmed recording of the 2013 performance would become available for streaming through
BroadwayHD BroadwayHD is an on-demand digital streaming media company. Based in New York City, the company records and distributes live theater performances and previously recorded theatrical productions through its platform. History Stewart F. Lane and ...
, to coincide with the show's 25th anniversary.


Casting history

In the show's early years, Dykstra and Greenblatt performed it almost exclusively. As the demand for productions of the show increased, it became necessary to audition other actors for the roles. However, the producers encountered challenges in the audition process because of the unique demands of the show. This is because the show requires actors to play piano at a conservatory level while having sufficient acting and comedic skills. The principal original casts of notable stage productions of ''Two Pianos Four Hands'':


Music

The two-hour version of ''Two Pianos Four Hands'' normally features samples of 20 to 30 musical pieces, primarily classical numbers such as pieces by
Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...
and
Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classical ...
, and some other
jazz standard Jazz standards are musical compositions that are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive lis ...
s and
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
numbers. Various pop songs and other famous piano songs are interspersed throughout the show and in the medley at the end of the show, including snippets of songs by
Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
,
John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...
, and Linus' song from the ''Peanuts'' cartoons. All music in ''Two Pianos Four Hands'' is performed live by the actors portraying Ted and Richard, without accompaniment. The specific chronology of the songs occasionally varies between productions, and in some other instances, additional songs are included. The following song chronology is as described in the 2012 script of the play. ; Act I * " Concerto in D minor, 1st
movement Movement may refer to: Common uses * Movement (clockwork), the internal mechanism of a timepiece * Motion, commonly referred to as movement Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * "Movement" (short story), a short story by Nancy Fu ...
" (
J. S. Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...
)
* " Sonatina No. 6 in F major" (
Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classical ...
)
* " Sonata Facile in C major, 1st movement" (
Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...
)
* "Sonata for One Piano, Four Hands in D major, 1st Movement" (Mozart) * " In der Halle des Bergkönigs", '' Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1'' (
Edvard Grieg Edvard Hagerup Grieg ( , ; 15 June 18434 September 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is widely considered one of the foremost Romantic era composers, and his music is part of the standard classical repertoire worldwide. His use of ...
)
* "Concerto in D minor, 1st movement" (Bach) ; Act II * " Prelude in D-flat major" ( Chopin) * " Leyenda" (
Isaac Albéniz Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz y Pascual (; 29 May 1860 – 18 May 1909) was a Spanish virtuoso pianist, composer, and conductor. He is one of the foremost composers of the Post-Romantic era who also had a significant influence on his conte ...
)
* " Rondo for Two Pianos, Four Hands in C major" (Chopin) * " Fantasiestücke No. 12" (
Schumann Robert Schumann (; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career a ...
)
* " Pathétique Sonatina No. 8 in C minor, 1st and 2nd movements (Beethoven) * " Ballade No. 2 in F major" (Chopin) * " Mephisto Waltz No. 1" (
Franz Liszt Franz Liszt, in modern usage ''Liszt Ferenc'' . Liszt's Hungarian passport spelled his given name as "Ferencz". An orthographic reform of the Hungarian language in 1922 (which was 36 years after Liszt's death) changed the letter "cz" to simpl ...
)
* "A Medley of Pop Tunes" * " Impromptu in A-flat, from D. 935" (
Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wor ...
)
* "
Piano Man Piano Man refers to a male pianist. Piano Man may also refer to: Music * ''Piano Man'' (Billy Joel album), a 1973 rock album by Billy Joel ** "Piano Man" (song), a 1973 song from the album * ''Piano Man'' (Hilton Ruiz album), 1975 * ''Piano Man'' ...
" (
Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, pianist and songwriter. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man (song), Piano Man" after his album and signature song of the same name, he has led a commercially successful career as a solo ...
)
* "Concerto in D minor, 1st movement" (Bach)


Reception

''Two Pianos Four Hands'' has received critical and commercial acclaim. William Triplett of ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' gave a positive review of the 1998 Kennedy Center production, praising the script and acting. Hailing the show as a "crescendo of pleasure", Triplett wrote, "The show's liveliness and strength derive from the duo's ability to look back not in anger but affection, not with nostalgia but clarity. They zero in on the weird mix of absurdity and logic that always seems to develop whenever kids are forced to assume artistic ambition. The result is a little more than two hours of big laughs -- not just at the eccentric and dysfunctional people who terrorized their youth but at themselves as well." Reviewing the 2011 tour stop in Toronto, Paula Citron wrote that ''2P4H'' is a show you can see "over and over again and still find yourself laughing." Meanwhile, Mark Andrew Lawrence of ''BroadwayWorld'' praised the show's constant humor and heart, pointing out the show is an even bigger success likely because non-classical music aficionados can easily enjoy the show. Lawrence ended the review, writing, "For the uninitiated be prepared for a show filled with humor and heartbreak and some beautiful music all done in perfect harmony." In a review of the Ottawa production, Ryan Pepper praised the show's relatability and appeal to broader audiences, with a constant stream of humour mixed with some heartfelt moments.


Awards and honors

The play has received multiple awards and honors: * In 1996, it won a
Dora Award The Dora Mavor Moore Award (also known as the Dora Award) is an award presented annually by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts which honours theatre, dance and opera productions in Toronto. Named after Dora Mavor Moore, who helped estab ...
for Outstanding Production. * In 1997, Dykstra and Greenblatt received a Chalmers Award, a Canadian National Award, for playwriting. * In 1997, it was named in the "Top 10 Productions of the Year" list by
Clive Barnes Clive Alexander Barnes (13 May 1927 – 19 November 2008) was an English writer and critic. From 1965 to 1977, he was the dance and theater critic for ''The New York Times'', and, from 1978 until his death, ''The New York Post.'' Barnes had sign ...
of the ''
New York Post The ''New York Post'' (''NY Post'') is a conservative daily tabloid newspaper published in New York City. The ''Post'' also operates NYPost.com, the celebrity gossip site PageSix.com, and the entertainment site Decider.com. It was established ...
'' * In 2006, ''Two Pianos Four Hands'' was named the "Outstanding Touring Production" by the Connecticut Theatre Critics Circle.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Two Pianos Four Hands Canadian musicals 1995 plays Comedy plays Two-handers Musicals set in Canada