The Jewish Repertory Theatre’s presentation of ‘’Looking Through Glass’’ is an adaptation of the play The Dybbuk, written at the turn of the century by playwright S. Ansky The ‘’Looking Through Glass’’ stars 5 characters; Jacob, Lea, Shmuel, Rabbi Mordecai, and Miriam.
The play opens with the idea that our loved ones are always around us. It introduces us to the concept of ‘Dybbuk’, or possession, and those in the world of death are connected to our souls in the present and the past. The belief is that the soul can come back to this world if there was an unfulfilled longing such as love during its previous lifetime
The credence is brilliantly exemplified by Lea and Jacob who are deeply in love with each other. In Lea’s previous life she chose not to be with Jacob, a man she loved, opting for a different path. After death, the two are guided by a deceased man, who turns out be…. He offers them a chance to return to life to have a 2nd chance to find each other again.
In one scene, the reincarnated souls of Lea and Jacob meet, not knowing about their previous lives, they share a kiss. Somehow, they both felt as if they always knew each other. Lingering in that kiss was also the questions that plagued her in her previous life, whether if Jacob was the ‘one’.
Without giving the rest of the play away, you will be surprised by the wedding scene, which reveals the same soul struggling questions about love as she had in her previous life.
The performance was incredible, as the 5 actors beautify personified the characters they played and were not just repeating memorized lines. David Bunis, Committee Chair, and JRT Producer and Dr. Saul Elkin, Artistic Director praised the cast by saying that they were the perfect set of actors for the play.
The audience felt the true emotions of the production when I spoke to them after the play. Natalie felt that it ‘’grabbed the soul in all of us’’, and Steve who said right next to me related to the idea of ‘’finding the one’’. Other audience members expressed the connection they have had to former loves, family, and friends who they feel are still with them today.
Tickets are still available for the last performances of the year, at http://www.Jewishrepertorytheatre.com or ticket office 650-7626.
On a final note thank you Jewish Repertory Theatre for another wonderful season,
Look forward to next season.
Nathan Sull Publisher