By Lori Speiser.
Vincent, the one-man play written by Leonard Nimoy, based on letters written between Vincent van Gogh and his brother is being performed at Patchogue Theatre on Friday night April 12, 2019 and Saturday night April 13, 2019. Co-produced by Patchogue Theatre and Patchogue Arts Council, starring James Schultz and directed by Mary Powers, the show was very well received. The stage is filled with Vincent’s work and includes a screen changing the art as the story unfolds.
James Schultz portrays Vincent van Gogh’s brother Theo who talks about his brother’s life and his passions. While Vincent was clearly troubled, Theo’s love and understanding along with some well understood frustration and an occasional touch of humor, give us an intriguing glimpse into his life. James did a great job communicating his emotions and the mixed feelings he had at times. All by himself on the stage, he kept the narrative moving and interesting. And what a terrific ability to memorize all of those lines!
The story is compelling. If you are a fan of Vincent van Gogh you will have an enjoyable evening and gain a deeper understanding of the artist. If you are not a fan, or know very little about him, I think you will come away pleasantly surprised.
This production is the premiere presentation of Patchogue Theatre’s first educational initiative they are referring to as “Live Edition”. The play was also shown to school groups across Long Island, their goal, as stated in their press release being “to offer unique and enriching educational experiences”. Along with the educational goal, directly after the play, John Cena, gave a short illuminating talk about van Gogh’s famous painting, Starry Night. John has an impressive resume. He is a sculptor, art educator, curator and arts activist currently teaching at both Nassau Community College and St. Joseph’s College of New York.
This production successfully attains their goals and we should look forward to more installments of this initiative.