Amadeus | Television tonight

TV has a habit of making series adaptations of big-screen films, which should reduce production risk because there is already brand awareness.

Certainly. But if you ask me, it’s quite the opposite. The expectation to improve on the original is often a road full of potholes.

In the case of 1984 Amadeusnow a new series starring Will Sharpe (Giri/Haji, The White Lotus), and Paul Bettany (WandaVision, a very British scandal), it expands on a Oscar Best photo. Good luck with that.

Writer Joe Barton (Black pigeons, Giri/Haji, The Lazarus Project) has returned to Peter Shaffer’s play of the same name. Now a five-part series, filmed in Hungary, in which the Viennese court composer Antonio Salieri (Bettany) once again collaborates with the misbehaving music genius Wolfgang.Amadeus‘Mozart (Sharpe).

While Salieri represents tradition with his respectable operas commissioned by Emperor Joseph (Rory Kinnear) and praised by society. But when the gifted, rough young Mozart (Sharpe) seeks his counsel and royal access, Salieri is deeply disturbed.

His self-confidence is shaken, writer’s block ensues and the hot young thing in town wins fans at the highest level.

For the young Mozart, prolific in his production and daring in his sexual urges, success is an obsession. This is fueled by letters from his father (Jonathan Aris) dripping with disappointment that his talent is being frivolously wasted and the family reputation is being mocked.

He is assisted by soprano Constanze (Gabrielle Creevy) who becomes his wife when there is enough of a break from the hustle and bustle of work/play/work.

Salieri is convinced that his path is the righteous one. He often prays to God for guidance while being tortured because a “repulsive creature plays so excellently.” As with Shaffer’s original play, we see an older Salieri looking back on his life and murder in his thoughts….

The locations in Hungary drip with classic style with gilded gold accents, paired with wigs and costumes. But despite all his efforts, I wonder if you can improve on Tom Hulce, F. Murray Abraham and the work of director Milos Forman? Should Peter Shaffer’s original 2.5-hour play be doubled into a five-part miniseries?

This Amadeus borrows from Bridgerton with its blind casting. How else can you explain the casting of Will Sharpe in the lead role? That said, he spices up the character, from the bedroom to the royal palace and the orchestra pit.

Paul Bettany may not have the same appeal as F. Murray Abraham, but by the end of the second episode, as the plot kicked into high gear, his mania with Mozart really came true.

Overall, this piece reminds me what a fine work Peter Shaffer has created, after decades of biographies of a classical titan. There are some elements that sing in harmony here, but only if you have no memory of the 1984 film, and you actually have time for 5 hours of extra, extra story.

Amadeus screens Sunday, December 21 on Binge / 8:30 PM Showcase.