12 Miles West company premieres a stunning 'Darkness to Light'

MADISON -- Darkness to Light, an original play by Andy Shapiro of Watchung, had a stunning premiere with 12 Miles West, currently making its home at 33 Green Village Road in Madison, sharing space with Play-wrights Theatre.

Artistic director Lennie Bart of Summit explained the troupe lost its Bloomfield location after three years of 'blood, sweat and tears.'

But the support for the displaced group, with a strong following, was palpable at last Friday night's premiere. The theater was packed, not only with 12 Miles West regulars, but with those who attend Playwrights Theatre as well. Both theatre groups have similar aims producing new plays and encouraging new playwrights.

12 Miles West expects to remain in Madison for the coming season.

Darkness to Light is a decided win for Ludwig van Beethoven's music alone, with excerpts from sonatas, symphonies and piano concertos.

The timing of those segments, carefully integrated into the plot, makes for smooth transitions.

David Sedgwick is superb as the composer, shifting from recollections of an abused childhood to fame and fortune to his devastating loss of hearing.

The remainder of the cast plays multiple roles: Maria Silverman as his mother, lover and sister-in-law; Brian J. Dowd as his father and lawyer; Michael Giorgio as his assistant Schindler, a count and a judge; Paul Murphy as a prince and Mozart and Dennis DaPrile as his brother Carl and attentive youth Gerhard. Additional roles are also handled by the flexible cast.

Jessica Parks' set design suggests the luscious period of 18th century Bonn and Vienna, with deep swags of draperies, a small piano and other touches.

Pamela Snyder-Gallagher's costumes also convey a variety of personages, not to mention the quick-change demands on the actors. Sound and slide design, including an effective thunderstorm (on an already rainy night) by Jeff Knapp, wigs by Robert McLaughlin and lighting by Carrie Yacono complete the atmosphere.

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