Hershey Felder Presents” Anna & Sergei”

Highly recommended ***** While most of the world was “locked in” during Covid, our good friend Hershey Felder was creating great films…stories of musicians Biographies that are amazingly detailed! Sheer delight to watch on any screen. While I truly enjoy watching him create his art “on stage” LIVE- I appreciate what he has done with his special series , Hershey Felder Presents-Live From Florence. Felder writes, directs and stars in these bios about composers and within each tale, we get to see and hear his touch on The Steinway.

When most of us met Hershey Felder it was at The Royal George Theatre on Halsted ( soon to be redeveloped) doing his one-man shows ( Gershwin, Beethoven, Bernstein etc.) but in this series of productions, he has assembled a fine cast to work with him.

“Anna & Sergei” written and directed by Felder also features him in the role of legendary composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. His cast of players include Ekaterina Siurina as his wife, Natalia and actor/violinist Igor Polesitsky as Dr. Golitzin. The near two hour film starts off in the actual home of Rachmaninoff in Beverly Hills, we see the story of his life as told in a memory situation. He is on his bed, being treated with morphine, his wife and nurse at his side. He begins to move his fingers as if playing the piano and is being watched by himself along with the fallen Tsar Nicholas II ( J. Anthony Crane).

Felder as Rachmaninoff tells us the history of his life, his music and his love for his country. The bio is history driven and we learn a great deal about the Russian community and lifestyle in the 1900’s. We bear witness to change in the people and the political unrest as Sergei leaves “his country” and moves about. We also bear witness to the tragedy that befalls the family of Tsar Nicholas. Later we are told that one of his children survived and that Anastasia ( Anna) may be unhinged ( so to speak). Sergei finds her and attempts to befriend her feeling that she will help his creative juices flow once again. He feels that Anna’s presence will make him create. Helen Farrell brings Anna to life with just the right touch to understand why Sergei would in fact feel as he does.

This is a brilliant production filled with great musical compositions, solid performances and of great importance, an opportunity to learn more about this man and his music ( as well as his life). We even learn about his composition “IT” and how Disney Studios had Mickey playing this piece. And as Sergei says “better than me”.

It all starts at 610 Elm Drive in Beverly Hills, and ends there as well.

The only negative about this production is the lack of time we have to enjoy it.

Viewing access ends on May 23rd at 11:59 p.m. SO

go to Porchlight Music Theatre  https://porchlightmusictheatre.org/events/anna-sergei/ 

Tickets are only $55 per household

Proceeds will benefit not only Porchlight, but national US theaters and arts organizations.

Once purchased, you will receive the instructions so you can stream on a smart TV, computer, smartphone or tablet. ENJOY!

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Anna & Sergei”.

FYI- you can get closed caption for this production! Just click at bottom right.