Mozart and who?

COEUR d'ALENE - One would think that "Amadeus" was the story of the brilliant composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. One would be wrong. It's the tale of one Antonio Salieri.

COEUR d'ALENE - One would think that "Amadeus" was the story of the brilliant composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

One would be wrong.

It's the tale of one Antonio Salieri.

"It's his story," said David Abdallah, who plays Salieri in the play that began Thursday at the Lake City Playhouse and continues tonight. "The play is called Amadeus, but it's really the story of Salieri and his war with himself, his war with God and his use of Mozart to sort of get back at what he feels was him sort of being snubbed by God.

"His broiler prayers for fame and fortune as a musician are thwarted by a natural genius who just happens to be Mozart. His name lives forever," Abdallah continued. "Salieri, you only know who he is through this piece, really. I don't know if anyone would know anything about him if (Peter) Shapper hadn't written this play that was turned into a brilliant movie."

The movie version came out in 1984, starred Tom Hulce and won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Jhon Goodwin, director of the production at the Lake City Playhouse, said it was a challenge to create Amadeus "in a very different way from the way it's been done.

"It's a challenge to have the grandiose style of that movie done with unlimited millions of dollars versus a small budget, small show here in Coeur d'Alene," he said.

Since there are no big budget bucks, Goodwin went with conceptual changes including minimal staging and costumes.

And he likes the way it came to together.

"You're looking at a drama with a lot of intensity within humanity. It's a story of religious belief and story of conceit, a story of selfishness as well as the struggle of one man to find his place in the world with another who outshines him on all levels," Goodwin said.

The play, which is not a musical and which is not suitable for children, is filled with brilliant performances, said Goodwin, who is making his main stage debut as a director.

"It's taken very little on my part to make these folks shine the way they are," he said.

Eric Paine, from Everett, Wash., plays Mozart. Janele Frisque plays Mozart's wife, Constanze.

Ariel Consino and Marnie Rorholm play the two venticelli always at Salieri's side.

"They're going to be brilliant as these two lovely ladies that are there in his ear all the time on either side of his shoulder," Goodwin said.

He also said Paine and Abdallah are strong on stage.

"The two of them are just a tour de force between each other," he said.

Paine said he's a little nervous about playing Mozart, but is prepared for becoming this "over the edge" character.

"His tongue is stupid, but his heart isn't. I think that's a real touchstone with this character," he said. "I'm trying not to play the obnoxious side as much as the human side."

Goodwin, who has acted for 15 years, has appeared in more than 60 shows in the Spokane area and performed in "Big River" and "A Few Good Men," in Coeur d'Alene last year.

He also landed a role in the third season premiere of "Leverage" a TNT show starring Timothy Hutton.

He believes Amadeus promises to deliver for the audience.

"The show itself is going to be a whole lot of fun," Goodwin said. "It's a serious show, but there's a lot of fun built into it."

If you go

Amadeus is scheduled March 25-28 and April 1-3 at the Lake City Playhouse. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, and a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. Tickets are $16 for adults $13 for seniors and students. The Playhouse is at 1320 E. Garden Ave. Call or visit The Box Office For Reservations, (208) 667-1323.