|
|||
|
|
Peer Reviews
The God of Isaac By James Sherman Reviewed by Keith Waits Entire contents copyright © 2008, Keith Waits. All rights reserved.
Isaac Adams is Jewish, but has been raised by parents who were satisfied to be merely "as Jewish as we needed to be." So as an adult married to a gentile woman, he has begun to question his cultural and religious identity. In the course of James Sherman's play, Isaac's journey of self-discovery will provide some insight and wisdom, but mostly laughs, as the script settles too often for easy, sometimes clichéd, humor, when it should have dug deeper. Not that there is anything wrong with wisdom mined through levity, but Mr. Sherman never truly achieves the profundity he seeks. There are many interesting moments that could have been the point of departure for a deeper journey. Isaac's story is set in 1977 in Skokie, Illinois, when American Nazis, with the help of the ACLU, fought for the right to march in the predominantly Jewish community; and there are several letters from his old friend/first love, Chaya, that detail her own struggle with identity. Both of these elements seem to offer the opportunity for a richer exploration of the important themes the playwright presents to the audience, yet he seems content to keep skipping along the surface of his subject, which keeps the story moving on a predictable course.
This production, directed by Juergen Tossmann, works to take fullest advantage of the clever devices contained in the script's structure. The main character's mother is seated in the audience yet interacts with the action onstage, both commenting and participating in the action; and there are several amusing vignettes that parody famous movie scenes (On the Waterfront, The Grapes of Wrath, The Wizard of Oz) by injecting Yiddish motifs and language into the well-known dialogue. Although the pace dragged a little, the staging was economical and effective. A smart and confident cast overcomes the material's
shortcomings with skill. Much of the play is structured
like a monologue, with Isaac speaking directly
to the audience, which creates a challenge for
the actor playing the role. Ted Lesley rises to
the occasion, charming the audience through every
step; Betty Zielinski, Katie Doyle and Olga Maria
Cruz adroitly portray the women in Isaac's life
(mother, girlfriend, and wife); Juergen Tossmann
and Bunbury mainstay Matt Orme bring a veteran's
practiced eye to their multiple roles.
The God of Isaac Posted Mar. 14, 2008
|
||
