The play PRELUDES about Rachmaninoff is an Overture to Genius

The new play PRELUDES by Obie winning playwright (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Coment o 1812) and composer, is a biographical play on Rachmaninoff.  It is also about art, genius, love and legacy.  This intelligent & remarkable drama hits all the right chords.  In addition to being a skillful play that morphs time, cultures and music to make something incredible unique that combine to make a great work.  Inspired by the music of Rachmaninoff, the cast performs music by Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Paganini, Bach, Beethoven and new compositions by the plays inventive creator Dave Malloy.  The multi-talented and hypnotic cast all act, sing and perform on the piano.  Other historic geniuses who were contemporaries of Rachmaninoff are woven into this pastiche of music, lyrics and intelligent interludes include:  Tolstoy, Tchaikovsky & Tsar Nicholas II to name but a few.  Set in 1990 Moscow, Rachmaninoff is suffering from depression & writers block due in large part to a disasterous performance of his Symphony #1 in St. Petersburg conducted by the acclaimed but inebriated Glazunov.  Rachmaninoff's beloved fiancee (and 1st cousin) Natalya, a pianist & teacher, struggles to bring Rachmininoff out of his malaise and back to life & composing.  Her prodding to seek professional help brings him to hypnotherapist, Nikolai Dahl.  Dahl's orchestration of Rachmaninoff's thoughts enables him to set aside his demons and rejuvenates his self-esteem & rare musical genius.  The set, acting, musical numbers & unexpected juxtapositions of time, characters & music made me stand up & cheer; bravo.  There is one interlude in PRELUDE in the 2nd act (which follows a 5 min. pause) that is an intolerably long & difficult section to appreciate.  But true geniuses are often unappreciated in their life times.  There are rare individuals in every epoch whose greatness will leave a significant mark.  PRELUDES is brilliant show that should be revered & appreciated by future generations.