Convincing Actors in a Gallant ‘Amadeus’

Milos Forman’s 1985 movie “Amadeus” radiated the glorious musical genius of the dissolute former child prodigy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Peter Shaffer wrote the screenplay, based on his play of the same name.

The Knightsbridge Theatre revival of Shaffer’s play, about a musical duel between the mediocre Salieri (Christian Noble) and the rebellious 18th century rock-star equivalent, Mozart (Dana Moran), can’t capture the grandeur or overwhelming audiovisual power of the silver-screen adaptation.

But it’s a gallant effort, nonetheless. Noble plays Salieri as a passionately venomous, spiteful man. Moran has the same puppyish quality as the movie’s Tom Hulce and slightly resembles him, but Moran’s Mozart is more salacious and less giddy.

Both of the Knightsbridge actors age with convincing grace. Noble transforms into a man embittered at the loss of his fame as his musical creations are silenced by indifference. Moran slowly loses his youthful confidence as his monetary fortunes and health diminish.

Chuck McCollum reduces Emperor Joseph into a humorously charming jester without the foggiest notion about art or music--but with beautiful manners. Elizabeth Barnes sparkles as Constanze Mozart--an attractive groupie transformed into an almost respectable wife who possesses only slightly more financial sense than her husband.

Shon La Blonc’s ornate costume designs sometimes poke fun at the fashion excesses, demonstrating that there was big hair before aerosol hair spray.

Director Karesa McElheny makes do with the tight confines of this venue, but it’s hard not to see the limitations: spatial, monetary and otherwise. It’s a fun interpretation of faux history that can’t quite seduce one into forgetting the movie.

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* “Amadeus,” Knightsbridge Theatre, 35 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m. Dark this weekend. Ends Jan. 24. $15. (626) 440-0821. Running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes.