>By TR Robertson
Two veteran performers and musicians will be starring in the return of what has become a holiday classic for Solana Beach’s North Coast Repertory Theatre, “2 Pianos 4 Hands”, even though there is not a holiday theme in the musical. This fast-paced musical comedy opens on December 11th and will feature the performances of two actors well-versed in this popular musical comedy play. Initially written by Canadians Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt, the musical comedy opened at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto in 1996. It was initially only 25 minutes long. The authors were encouraged to make the production longer, and the result is a musical comedy that appears in theatres all over Canada and the United States.
Reprising the roles of pianists Ted and Richard are Richard (Ricky) Adams and Max Roll. Both actors currently reside on the East Coast, Adams in New Jersey and Roll in New York. “2 Pianos 4 Hands” is loosely based on the musical lives of authors Dykstra and Greenblatt, as they navigated piano lessons, a variety of piano instructors, pushy parents, and decisions about the direction their lives should take in the music world. Both Adams and Roll said they can identify with and remember various parts in the musical comedy, as they also had to make decisions about the direction their lives should take in the world of performing, both in acting and musical performances.
Ricky and Max recently took some time to respond to questions about their personal rise in the theatrical world and their return to performing in this popular musical comedy. Ricky is a graduate of Juilliard School and has performed on Broadway in several plays and in touring companies in both “Les Misérables” and “Phantom of the Opera”. Max is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and has also performed in several Broadway productions, as well as Off-Broadway and in the United Kingdom. Both performers were asked about what it is like to once again bring “2 Pianos and 4 Hands” to life on stage, and both said they absolutely love this musical comedy. Ricky said he last worked with Max in 2022 in the musical comedy, and he loves the intimacy of performing this particular play on the North Coast Stage. He said it makes him feel like he is in someone’s living room playing the piano for a group of friends. For Max this will be his first time performing “2 Pianos 4 Hands” in the United States. He is especially excited because friends will be coming to see his perform at North Coast Rep and then stay in the San Diego area because he is gong to marry his fiancé TC on January 2nd. He added that his parents may not be able to join them because his dad had a recent bout with cancer, but he is excited to say he is currently cancer free. Ricky said his family will join him for the holidays and his wife has relatives in Chula Vista, and they will be spending time with them.
For these two performers their professional careers have always been centered around performing in a variety of different musical and theatrical experiences. Max said his first instrument has always been the clarinet, then the piano. He also said he has performed in several musicals and operas, but he isn’t sure the grind of singing and acting in a musical for a long theatrical run is something he is cut out for, but he would like to perform in “Oliver” or “My Fair Lady” someday. Ricky had a similar comment saying performing in musicals is very hard on your voice and is more exhausting than people realize. He also said he loves working in the theatre, especially on new shows he has never been in before as they are challenging. He said the musical “Sweeny Todd” does have some appeal to him. Working in a show like “2 Pianos 4 Hands” becomes almost a relief for Ricky as he knows it so well and always looks forward to bringing the musical comedy back to the stage, especially to people who have never seen this show before. He remembered bringing his performance to the stage of the Pioneer Theatre in Salt Lake City, Utah, and 99% of the people in the audience had never seen the show before and the exuberant laughter and comments of the audience during and after the show brought a smile to his face. Both performers said there is always something in the musical comedy that people can identify with even if they had never played a musical instrument in their life. People can relate to having a dream, the journey of lessons and practice, dealing with parents and coaches and changing their goals. This is true in the music world, the world of sports or work in any field.
Ricky’s world outside of performing on stage also centers around his vocal/piano studio he operates in New Jersey. He said he instructs between 30-40 students a month as well as recently working as a music director for St. Joseph Regional High School in Mt. Vale for a performance of “Pippin”. Working with local symphony concerts also takes up his time when he is not working in a theatrical production. For Max, after the North Coast Rep run, he will head to Maltz Jupiter in Florida at the end of January to perform in “Good Night, Oscar”, a play he said he loves and one he has a long history of working in.
Max said “2 Pianos 4 Hands” “is the most commercially successful Canadian play ever, and for a good reason. It’s funny, touching and holds generational appeal. And it’s not just for pianists and musicians to enjoy. Anyone who has ever struggled to master a discipline as a child and into adulthood and they will be able to see themselves so clearly in this story. It’s foolproof.” Ricky added that the musical comedy has appeal to people of all ages and young people will be able to relate to many aspects shown in the performance.
“2 Pianos 4 Hands” will be on the North Coast Repertory stage in Solana Beach from December 11th until the 31st, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Tickets are available at www.northcoastrep.org. Treat your family and friends to a night of laughter and reflection as well as watching amazing piano skills unfolding on stage.
