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This play had so much of a real life-related in its performance, which is playing at the Jewish Repertory Theatre. Sitting in a very comfortable theatre with good seating and the visual view is in every seat, you’re right there with the actors and actresses.
The play is centered around Chava, a Jewish woman who is divorced from a husband who abandoned her and her children. Her friends Faiga husband the Cantor Velvel, is so supportive of her, and give her so much encouragement. It takes place in an orthodox Jewish community.
There was one song in the production of lighting the sabots candles, and the words led to a Jewish warmth in one’s home, that ‘that this is home’, which so many of us can relate to, that is in your home when the Soviets candle are lit, gives such a glow of warmth of being home, very well done.
Chava dressed in plain, modest clothing, her confidence and self esteem shook by the divorce from years earlier. The singing and music really bring alive during the whole performance. One song of a song of respect (a little respect) towards Faiga and Velvel, reminded me very much Fidler on the Roof song ‘but do you love me’, very well done, and devoted even in humor they were to each other and their marriage.
The formula was Chava ability to cook a wonderful strudel, which is indeed very marketable. This set a path, with a lot of encouragement from Faiga, to go forward to a new life. A real job, offered by her employer Leonard, moving to Manhattan, becoming independent and finding herself, which was so buried away in her past unhealthy marriage. It comes to be, she’s well dressed now, her self esteem is glowing, and closed the gap of her and her own children. Even the topic of the sensitive topic of sex, that was the reason Chava husband left her, not to his satisfaction, was expressed humorously very well in the play.
Leonard, Chava boss, become closer to Chava, and their bond by the end of the play is displayed, of two people falling in love. Leonard displayed a right timing song, in the aspect of a sin, or making a mistake,’ just say a prayer, and you’ll be forgiven’, very well done.
Chava and Faiga have a fight of a relationship without marriage not being right, separate them for a while, but they come back together as very caring friends. The show ends of Chava and Leonard announce their engagement, her friends Faiga and Velvel gleaming with happiness, and a song ‘not a sin to show affection, and words like wonderful to feel, to see a smile in our reflection’
Yes, I thing two of the audiences I talked to after the performance, Richard and Lori Newburg said it best. that’s nice to see a wonderful story and plot that has a happy ending’. Yes, we all need more of that, especially in the world today. It brought warmth, real life, great music, and singing, and made us smile, and like strudel, it tastes good physically and very good for our nashama (soul) as well.
To each of the performers, crew, and Jewish Repertory Theater, very very well done. and thanks for the smiles.
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