The productions at Jewish Repertory Theatre are consistently thoughtful and moving. Even the comedies aren't all frothy and fluffy and have impact, and that's what I appreciate most about this fine company. Conscience, on stage now to November 23, is a fine example of what JRT does best. Conscience isn't merely straight-up storytelling. Playwright Joe … Continue reading Conscience is Compelling at JRT
Jewish Repertory Theatre
The Hatmaker’s Wife, a Great Topper at JRT
The Hatmaker's Wife by Lauren Yee is part folktale, part allegory about who to love and how to love, and a reminder of the high price of loss. It's a beautiful story with more depth and nuance than the show publicity (sorry, Jewish Repertory Theatre) portrayed when it mentioned talking walls and hats. That "you … Continue reading The Hatmaker’s Wife, a Great Topper at JRT
The Wanderers at JRT
Tradition can be dangerous. It can drive roots too deep, too strong to not allow for growth. That applies to love, too. The person you love so deeply for so many years could also be the one that’s holding you back from your dreams. Heritage and history are the central theme of The Wanderers on … Continue reading The Wanderers at JRT
Harrowing Story Beautifully Told at JRT
Sometimes the most evocative way to tell a story is to keep it simple. One actor, a table, one (versatile) costume, and a mesmerizing, powerful script is all you need. Layer in some breathtaking audio cues and compelling lighting and you have Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski, beautifully presented now by the Jewish … Continue reading Harrowing Story Beautifully Told at JRT
Hats Off to JRT and Crossing Delancey
Yes, that title is a bit of a spoiler alert. In this sweet and gentle love story, the gift of a hat underscores a bit of banter between two characters and is also a subtle message to try embrace the unexpected. Watch for it...and revel in the characters' vulnerability and anticipation. That's the heart of … Continue reading Hats Off to JRT and Crossing Delancey
Kinder Transport at JRT
In Leonard Cohen’s song "Anthem," he wrote “There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” That iconic line jumped into my head when I saw David Dwyer’s set for Kinder Transport, presented by the Jewish Repertory Theatre until February 25. The setting is a sparse attic in a London home and there … Continue reading Kinder Transport at JRT
It’s Tradition vs Modern at Jewish Repertory Theatre
We all know that person. He’s chronically late and eternally apologetic. He’s completely annoying and utterly charming. He swears he’s your best friend but given the opportunity, he’d shatter your trust. That pretty much sums up Hershel Klein (“My friends call me Hersh,” he says), the diamond dealer who can’t shut up in Modern Orthodox, … Continue reading It’s Tradition vs Modern at Jewish Repertory Theatre
The Treasurer is Rich With Emotion at JRT
Near the end of The Treasurer, on stage now at Jewish Repertory Theatre’s Maxine and Robert Seller Theatre in Getzville, the titular character reminds the audience that people don’t determine the length of their lives. While that may be debatable (spoiler alert: there are some suicidal ideations in the story), people can and do determine … Continue reading The Treasurer is Rich With Emotion at JRT
Photograph 51 Holds the Secret of Life at JRT
One of my favorite James Taylor songs begins with these lyrics: “The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time…” Sometimes we’re robbed of time. Sometimes we’re robbed of opportunity. Part of the human condition. For real-life British scientist Rosalind Franklin, the focus of Photograph 51, presented by Jewish Repertory Theatre, her early death … Continue reading Photograph 51 Holds the Secret of Life at JRT
Looking Life Square in the Eye: What I Thought I Knew
Josie DiVencenzo in "What I Thought I Knew." Photo by Ali Lewis Jewish Repertory Theatre’s production of “What I Thought I Knew” packs a lifetime of emotions, decisions, and dilemmas into 90 minutes. Based on writer Alice Eve Cohen’s memoir, the story is deeply reflective at times and slyly funny, too. Josie DiVincenzo is the … Continue reading Looking Life Square in the Eye: What I Thought I Knew
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