I don’t know if it is my dyslexia or fidgeting but I never took to music lessons as a kid. As an adult I enjoyed voice lessons for many years but just for fun rather than a serious attempt to learn the skill. Watching the new play 2 Pianos 4 Hands at Pioneer Theatre Company I realize this may have been a blessing not a curse.

The play stars Richard Todd Adams and Matthew McGloin as Ted and Richard respectively. Both gentlemen are aspiring concert pianists, and we follow the entire journey of their training from being a little child pianists to adults who hopes to be successful musicians. Of course, classical music is an incredibly demanding profession and the men may or may not have what it takes to make it.

Naturally such a story would require actual piano playing from our 2 leads. We get all kinds of music with everything from Mozart to Elton John to “Heart and Soul” and it’s really fun to hear such great tunes at the theatre. In many ways it feels like we are getting the best of both a concert experience and a play, which is fresh and fun.

Both Adams and McGloin have done this show multiple times and one can sense this in the confidence of their performances. They also have terrific chemistry and bounce off of each other well like old friends do.

One of my favorite parts of the play is the increasing sense of desperation on the part of the 2 men. They have put in so many hours into their piano playing that quitting doesn’t feel like an option. If they quit than their entire life will be meaningless but staying feels like a pipedream and waste of time at a certain point.

The production elements for 2 Pianos are on the simple side. It mainly features 2 grand pianos and Ted and Richard in formal wear. The stage features panels that can work as shadowboxes where storytelling will take place. They didn’t use this feature much but it provides variety to the experience and is creative. Everything else on the production side works great for this particular show.

The first part where the men are young boys trying to win points to their fathers and satisfy demanding teachers is my favorite part of the play. Director Tom Frey makes all of the elements come together and work seamlessly and like I said it feels like we are getting a play and a concert at the same time. I especially enjoyed the “A Medley of Pop Tunes” number where we get a bunch of recognizable songs strung together.

2 Pianos 4 Hands is playing through September 27th at the Meldrum theatre at the U. It’s a burst of energy that will leave us thinking about our own attempts to master new skills. It is pretty family friendly and tickets can be purchased here.

Two Pianos 4 Hands is a play with music written by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt. It was first performed in Toronto in 1996

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.