Was Mozart Salieris greatest hit?
OCTOBER 19, 1998: Nearly twenty years ago, the play Amadeus opened in London to what can best be described as split reviews. Some regarded it as a theatrical masterpiece. Others considered the production an irresponsible distortion and deliberate trashing of historical facts. Many theater seasons later, after the novelty has worn off and the controversy subsided, Amadeus is now viewed as one of the Western world’s most powerful and popular contemporary dramas. After a triumphant London run, the show premiered on Broadway in 1980 and ran for over 1100 performances, ultimately nabbing five Tony Awards, including Best Play. A film version followed three years later, starring F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce. Written by British playwright Peter Shaffer, who also scored hits with Equus and Lettice and Lovage, Amadeus explores the precarious relationship between mediocrity and genius, between an adequate musician and the brilliant proteg who usurps him. The show’s central character is Antonio
