Lavish New Schwartz Musical: Hugh Jackman?
Michael Riedel is shaking the tambourine for the new Stephen “Wicked” Schwartz musical, which opened in Vienna instead of London or New York because the Austrian government provided a big fat subsidy: ‘It’s called “Schikaneder,†and while the title doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue, one source’s description is enticing: “It’s ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ meets ‘Amadeus’ with a score as lush and melodic as Stephen’s ‘The Baker’s Wife.’ This is
a major show.†So what’s a Schikaneder? He was Emanuel Schikaneder, an 18th-century German impresario, actor and builder of the fabled Theater an der Wien. He wrote the libretto to Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,†and originated the role of Papageno. He was also a roué who cheated on his wife, Eleonore, one of the leading actresses of her day. He had bastard children running all over Vienna and died, at 61, in abject poverty. It’s a big, juicy role tailor-made for a major star such as, well, Hugh Jackman.’
