Dec 25, 2009

Amadeus | Peter Shaffer's Continued Quest for God in Amadeus

In the following essay, Daniel R. Jones examines Shaffer's ongoing theme of "God-hunting," finding that Shaffer ''continues his quest for God in new and increasingly sophisticated ways.''

Peter Shaffer's Amadeus premiered at the National Theatre of Great Britain in November of 1979 and quickly became the most successful play in that theatre's history, having an extended run of over a year. The play received the same enthusiastic reception when it opened in November of 1980 at the National Theatre in Washington D.C., and when it moved a month later to New York's Broadhurst Theatre.

In addition to being enormously popular, the play also received high critical acclaim, winning five Tonys in New York, including a Tony for best drama of the 1980 season The 1984...