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The Pianist - Manchester Review

July 8, 2007

The Pianist (Manchester International Festival) @ The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester- Review

One pianist and one narrator; the memoirs of Wladyslaw Szpilman, authentically delivered in a warehouse in the Science Museum. Dull and worthy? Think again.

This festival has included some really interesting ideas. As I was led up the stairs by MIF staff to listen to one man’s fascinating memoirs, recreating the horrors of the holocaust, I immediately felt that I was in Edinburgh, as this production is up there with the best, that this celebrated festival has to offer.

Narraror Chris Davey plays Szpilman, the speaker and he elqouently guides you through key moments, in a frightening six year period. This composer and concert pianist experienced the bombs, the starvation, the loss and the heartache. Yet, this true survivor began writing his memoirs, just months after.

You may be thinking that after Schindler’s List, The Diary Of Anne Frank, the TV series Holocaust and so many other accounts, what makes this one interesting? Well, the one element that stands out here, is that this is a first person account. So, you really do get a sense of personal loss. This is often blurred, when thinking about the Holocaust as it affected millions of people, each story as shocking as the last. But so often, the one voice is missing.

If you have seen Roman Polanski’s film The Pianist, there is nothing new here, in terms of facts. But the way in which this is presented is so unique, that the whole experience is incredibly involving. The setting is evocative as the vast warehouse feels like a hiding place for Szpilman and you witness first hand, the prisoner, the pianist and the writer.

Chris Davey’s lighting is beautifully designed and you truly feel transported to another time and place. Mikhail Rudy’s musical prowess is stunning to see first hand. You are so close to the man, therefore, the music really does move you. One particularly touching scene occurs when the narrator rests his hands on the pianist’s shoulders, silently, digesting the horrors he has witnessed. It is mesmerising and sums up the entire mood of the audience throughout this deceptively simple, yet effective piece.

With a current generation seemingly unaware of the horrors of war, unless they are screened on television via BBC News 24, this love letter to survival could not be more timely. Catch it before it closes as the venue, alone will leave you gasping. The added bonus is the masterful storytelling of Guiness and Rudy.

Glenn Meads

The Pianist continues until Sunday 15 July. For more information visit the website or call 0871 230 1888

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