“2 Pianos 4 Hands” is a musical comedy written by Canadian playwrights Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt. The two actors of the play are Richard Todd Adams who plays Ted and Matthew McGloin who plays Richard. The narrative of the play focuses on Ted and Richard from the earliest stages of their musical careers and how both of these talented players struggle to improve their craft through a series of comedic escapades and the hurdles of life.
“2 Pianos 4 Hands” is a fantastic start for the newest season of Pioneer Theatre Company. Going in, it is easy to expect a simple comedy with the occasional music placed here and there. This is not the case with “2 Pianos 4 Hands.” Here the piano takes center stage with entire swaths of the play being nothing more than an exchange of classical music with some recognizable pop hits thrown in. This would not be possible with tout the talents of Adams and McGloin, who show off not only a supreme musical talent but an acting one as well.
Not only do they play their main roles expertly, but they also switch between a variety of other characters to fill out the cast of the play, most often the variety of piano instructors for Ted and Richard. The subtle shifts in body language, speech patterns and accents are done so smoothly that never once the flow of the play is halted. Not just that, but every character feels distinct from one another. The dialogue itself is superb as well. It’s sharp and comes out through breakneck exchanges that never gives the audience a moment to find their footing. Which is all the better for when the comedy of the play punches through. Make no mistake, there are some truly riveting comedic moments in the play, layered well between scenes of drama.
Art and adversity
While comedy and music are the main focus of the play, it is not afraid to show how brutal reality can be. There are genuine moments of sorrow in this play as people and forces beyond the control of Ted and Richard slowly grind away at their passion for music. Be it pretentious teachers, stubborn parents or even themselves, “2 Pianos 4 Hands” highlights the struggle of being an artist in a world that doesn’t understand it. Or worse still, a world of people trying to define what art and passion should be. Though the play does not go into heavy subjects, there are scenes that are a bit darker compared to the rest of the play. What these moments do is highlight how the pursuit of a craft can be both a blessing and a trap for those going through hard times.
At the time of writing, “2 Pianos 4 Hands” is currently live at Pioneer Theater Company. The play will remain until Sept. 27. For anyone who enjoys music, theater or just want a fun two hours, go and see this play. If you are a University of Utah student, the Arts Pass Program will allow you to see any play at PTC, or another campus art event for that matter, for a generous discount. Just make sure to show your student ID at the ticket booth.
