Review: The Rembrandt Room

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

I had the privilege to attend the very first theatrical performance at the Stewart Auditorium on Friday, March 8.

The Longmont Museum staff transformed the stage by wrapping it in their newly purchased black curtains. It was the perfect setting for The Rembrandt Room, a room at an art museum dedicated to showcasing Rembrandt's art.

Erin Rollman plays the role of Anna, a museum employee whose sole job is to stand next to Rembrandt's painting of Danaë. After all of the time that she has spent looking at the painting she has gathered a plethora of facts, or are they merely thoughts about the painting.

The set for the performance included only a walkie-talkie, a water bottle, a notebook full of random things of interest, a bench and a Rembrandt painting. Using this simple set, Rollman captivated the audience for an 85 minute performance.

Anna carried the audience through a journey of facts related to Rembrandt and the painting, beginning with simple facts about the artist himself. Did you know that the muse was his wife but the face was changed to represent his mistress after his wife's passing?

As the play continues, Anna moves away from simple art facts and winds her personal thoughts and life experiences into the narrative using symbolism and finds herself reliving a past that she continues to struggle with.

Rollman does an amazing job of keeping the audience's attention throughout the play. Her comedic timing keeps a smile on your face. However, by the end of the performance audience members were compelled to empathize with Anna's struggle to the point that many left with tears in their eyes.

While the show will take you through an emotional journey of your own, I highly recommend seeing it. I was blown away by Rollman's solo performance and the script, collaboratively created by Rollman, Brian Colonna, Hannah Duggan, Erik Edborg and SamAnTha Schmitz.

The Rembrandt Room is only the first of what the Longmont Museum hopes to be many theatrical performances in the future. Tickets for the March 9, 7:30 p.m. performance are still available.

Tickets for the performance are $20 for general admission, $18 students/seniors and $15 for museum members. The performance will take place in the Stewart Auditorium at the Longmont Museum, located at 400 Quail Road.