Amadeus
at C Too (Venue 4), Edinburgh

James Panton

Making their debut at the Edinburgh Festival after 5 years of promenade drama, REP have pulled off an impressive staging of Shaffer's Amadeus.

Telling the story of Mozart's time in Vienna towards his untimely death, Amadeus is told through the eyes of Salieri, the court composer and a man desperate to hear the voice of God through his work. Alas, poor Salieri has the misfortune of living in the time of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and, realising his mediocrity in the face of genius, he denies God and the world and becomes, like Erostratus, a man who settles for the infamy of destruction rather than the fame of creation.

Founded in 1996, REP brings together aspiring professional actors with 'committed young school performers.' Robin Taylor is a superb Salieri, no mean feat considering that the role was most famously played by F Murray Abraham. Only just out of school, the 18-year-old George Rainsford makes his debut here, playing the childlike genius, having neither performed professionally nor at the Fringe. His performance has moments of impressive inspiration, but ultimately has something missing from the part. Enthusiastic, but perhaps a little too enthusiastic, some of the subtleties of the tortured genius are missing. The setting is simple and appropriate to the stylised nature of the work.

I have no doubts that REP are a company to watch out for. If there is one serious criticism to make, it is unfortunately one that neither cast nor company can alter - C Too venue is stiflingly hot, which diminishes one's appreciation of the work one is there to see.