::: George Christy ::: From the Beverly Hills Courier

His is a virtuoso talent, prolific and thrilling to observe, as Hershey Felder, 39, performs his Monsieur Chopin at the Geffen Playhouse this month. His chameleon-esque talent delivers a stunning one-man performance in the persona of composer Frederic Chopin, whose baptismal name was spelled Fryderyk. Cheers and a standing ovation greeted Hershey during his premiere performance of Chopin, who was born to a French father and Polish mother. His talent for the piano became evidenced at age 6, and heÕs acclaimed today as one of the historyÕs greatest composers. Last month, Hershey was cheered for another recreation in George Gershwin Alone, which the GeffenÕs producing director Gil Cates says was the playhouseÕs Òmost successful show.Ó Famed for his polonaises -- two were composed and performed at age seven in the aristocratic salons Ð as well as his uplifting mazurkas, sonatas, waltzes, nocturnes, etudes, preludes, ChopinÕs personal life and career highlights are explored with zest in Monsieur Chopin. Written by Hershey, the evening passes by in a flash under the direction of Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding). ÒHershey also will be taking Monsieur Chopin to Poland, and perform it in Polish,Ó informs Joel. ÒIÕm there to keep him honest and from ever becoming stale with the material. His drive is remarkable.Ó A Montrealer, Hershey is fluent in French and other languages, lives in ParisÕs Sixth Arrondissement with his wife, former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell. The ConsulateÕs Helen Gurinow tells us that Hershey cooked a Polish supper after his opening night for 100 friends at the Beverly Hills house he and Kim lease from Barbara Rush. Here is engaging entertainment, rich with narrative and joyous with ChopinÕs compositions -- even non-music lovers will be captivated by HersheyÕs capsule countdown of ChopinÕs genius. Gliding his fingers effortlessly on the keyboard of the Steinway concert grand on the Geffen stage, HersheyÕs mastery of the piano is inspiring to watch, and emotionally fulfilling. In one of his journals, the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov wrote that Òmusic unlocks the frozen rivers of the heart.Ó And Hershey warms and unfreezes us in his two-hour sojourn wrapped around ChopinÕs conducting a master class in Paris, circa 1846, performing elegant polonaises and waltzes. ÒA delicate man of extreme refinement of mien and manner,Ó is a description from a music critic during the 1800s. Chopin was pursued by Baroness Dudevant, known as the novelist George Sand, who he called Madame. Their romance lasted ten years. George affected menÕs clothing and smoked cigars Ð Hershey explains that she wanted to be Òa manÕs equal.Ó Chopin suffered from a terminal lung disease, and she cooked favorite dishes and cleaned for him to jump-start his will to live. When George brought him to Palma de Mallorca for the Spanish sunshine, rain fell for days, which didnÕt help matters. Ever the wit, Chopin complained about the local doctors. ÒThe first said I was going to die, the second said I had breathed my last, and the third said I was dead.Ó Losing his life at age 39, heÕs buried at ParisÕs Pere Lachaise cemetery, next to Jim Morrison of The Doors, and his heart is encased in a pillar at WarsawÕs Holy Cross Church. He demanded that his heart be removed from his chest Òto make certain he was dead,Ó terrified as he was by the scandalous tales about misdiagnoses and men and women being buried alive. After enrapturing his audience, Hershey takes questions for a half-hour, and when a woman he singles out is too shy to ask, ÒI know this is Los Angeles, and everythingÕs slower É but try to think quickly.Ó He reveals that ChopinÕs favorite composers were Bach (Òpure musicÓ) and Mozart (ÒperfectÓ), and as for Beethoven, Òhe was hard of hearing which is why he composed with all that banging.Ó Monsieur Chopin is the second ÒmovementÓ of HersheyÕs trilogy, The Composer Sonata. ÒTraditionally, the second movement of a sonata is a ÔromanzaÕ of sorts, a lush and beautiful expression of soul,Ó says Hershey. His first movement, Beethoven, As I Knew Him, world-premieres in May of next year at what Gil Cates calls their Òsister theater,Ó the Old Globe in San Diego. ÒThen the last movement of the sonata,Ó continues Hershey, Òis dance-like, extroverted and joyous É this, is my George Gershwin Alone.Ó One of our fine talents in the musical theater, Brian Stokes Mitchell sold out the Hollywood Bowl, starring as the French plantation owner Emile De Becque in Rodgers and HammersteinÕs by-now-immortal South Pacific, with Reba McIntire as Ensign Nurse Nellie (ÒIÕm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My HairÓ) Forbush. How can you not be enthralled by an enduring score that includes classics such as Some Enchanted Evening, A Cockeyed Optimist, Younger than Springtime, This Nearly Was Mine, Bali HaÕi, Bloody Mary Is the Girl I Love, Happy Talk. Welcoming Stokes to Los Angeles was hostess Kate Edelman Johnson, who garlanded him with a pikake lei, invited 100 friends to greet and meet over drinks in her Beverly Hills garden and to talk about the Actors Fund (Kate being a trustee for nine years). Entering his fourth term as president, Stokes emphasized the rewarding work the Fund does in behalf of folks in showbusiness -- not only actors but casting agents, publicists, etc. Housing, assistance with substance abuse, insurance needs, and more. ÒWe encourage them to come to us for help.Ó On Oct. 15, he headlines a benefit concert for the Fund at Carnegie Hall, says heÕs more and more Òinto concert performances, which allow me time to spend with my 3 l/2 year old son Ellington.Ó Named after The Duke? ÒYes.Ó StokesÕ Broadway revival of South Pacific is scheduled for next spring. Also garlanded with a pikake lei by hostess Kate was Mitzi Gaynor, who starred in the South Pacific film with Rossano Brazzi, and Mitzi reminded that her Professional Dancers Society is aligned with the Actors Fund that was established 125 years ago. Coming and going were musical powerhouse Corky Hale, whoÕll record an album with Stokes, the Share charityÕs major philanthropist Joni Berry, Joanna Carson, Marilyn and Alan Bergman, Michele Lee, Pat and Michael York, Doris Roberts, Robert Forster, songwriter Hal David with wife Eunice, whose book, High Rise, Low Down, is a juicy read about the world of high-end real estate in Manhattan, PR man-about-town Jeffrey Lane, who praises Les Girls, starring Mitzi, Kay Kendall and Tania Elg, as one of HollywoodÕs all-time great musicals. ÒI saw it on Turner Classic Movies, and can only imagine how it would look on the big screen!Ó Among KateÕs guests were LondonÕs Lyn Rothman, who attended Barbara and Warren CowanÕs evening for friends of the late Margaret Gardner, one of our iconic publicists based in London, Joan Van Ark, Donna Mills, Gene Harbin, Alana and Michael Jackson, Leba (Mrs. Neil) Sedaka, Lorna Luft, whoÕs ended her four-month run in Babes in Arms in London Ð ÒdidnÕt see any sun all the time I was there.Ó No matter, Lorna, we still love the Brits. Dale Olson was championed for working through the years in behalf of the Actors Fund, Dale being among our veteran public relations maestros representing Shirley MacLaine, producer Chuck Fries and DreamWorks Oscar contenders. This September, DaleÕs producing the Roller Derby musical in New York for a weekÕs showcase run at St. ClementÕs Church, where hits like Urinetown were discovered. HeÕs hired the great choreographer Donald McKale, who praises the score as Òsensational.Ó Meanwhile, a distinguished citizen and reader contests my fantasy casting of George Lopez for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in last weekÕs column for the film, Mistress: the Sequel, suggesting that Mexican comedian Cantiflas, were he alive, would be the ideal choice. But Mr. Citizen was okay with Mariah Carey costarring as Telemundo anchor Mirthala Salinas. Online at www.bhcourier.com.