“God of Vengeance” at TBG Theatre By Sholem Asch (Translated by Joseph C. Landis) Directed by Lenny Leibowitz Reviewed by David Roberts Theatre Reviews Limited
The Torah is clear: the second book Exodus contains the following dictum: “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.” No wonder Yankl Chapchovich arranges with Reb Elye to have the scribe make a Torah Scroll for his daughter Rivkele in Sholem Asch’s “God of Vengeance,” currently running at TBG Theatre as part of Marvell Rep’s “2012 Burned and Banned” series. Yankl is convinced that living above and running a brothel with his wife Sore would qualify as “hating God,” especially since Sore was a former “worker” in the brothel and he needs to appeal to God’s better nature to save his daughter.
Despite Yankl’s best efforts to protect this daughter Rivkele from the wrath of a vengeful God, his plan to “trick” God into forgetting the past fails miserably. It turns out Rivkele has been straying from Halakha herself: she has fallen in love with Manke one of the workers in the brothel downstairs. To make matters worse, Manke is victim of Hindl and Schloyme’s plan to enlist Rivkele as one of the girls in their spinoff brothel.
This is clearly a complicated plot driven by a challenging complex of conflicts. Written in 1907, “God of Vengeance” was heavily criticized by both Czarist supporters and Asch’s own Jewish compatriots, eventually forcing him to flee his native Poland. Although the play had successful productions in Paris, London, and in New York, its Broadway debut in 1923 brought out the local censors and law enforcement personnel in force.
“God of Vengeance” is entrenched in the genre of Yiddish Theatre (it was originally written in Yiddish) and includes a good deal of exaggerated and loud speech and ad-libbing by the actors which might be somewhat unfamiliar to traditional New York audiences. However, the strong ensemble cast delivers a powerful punch in this controversial play. As Yankl, Sam Tsoutsouvas gives a riveting performance as a father trying to make sense of a God who could not forgive. Veteran Broadway actor Joy Franz gives the audience a mother (Sore) hoping to make life better for her daughter and also ambivalent about her faith and its unwillingness to forgive. Leanne Agmon brings freshness to her character (Rivkele) who simply wants to love another young woman with passion.
Despite Reb Elye’s (Joel Bernstein) counsel that “everything will be all right” and “Don’t worry, God will help you,” Yankl ultimately embraces despair and defeat and proclaims that since God cannot return Rivkele to him and Sore “chaste,” he is a God of vengeance only, “a God of orphans,” who is “like a man.” “God of Vengeance” is a brilliant play about not only contrasting moralities but moral ambiguity. Who is right in this play” God? Reb Elye? Yankl? Who is “better:” those who strictly follow the Torah or those trying simply to understand the meaning of life and mortality? What, after all, is respectability and how does one achieve it or lose it? What is purity and what could possibly make a human being impure?
“God of Vengeance” will not completely answer these questions; however is does challenge each audience member to examine her or his own moral constructs and ability to proffer unconditional and nonjudgmental love to a world weary of vengeance. See it in rotation with Marvell Rep’s “Spring’s Awakening” for a duet of powerful and provocative plays.
GOD OF VENGEANCE
Presented by Marvell Rep at TBG Theatre. By Sholem Asch (Translated by Joseph C. Landis). Directed by Lenny Leibowitz. Scenic Design by Tijana Bjelajac. Lighting Design by Nick Houfek. Costume Design by Nikki Moody. Sound Design by Marisa J. Barnes.
WITH: Leanne Agmon (Rivkele), Getchie Argetsinger (Ensemble), Thomas Benton (The Scribe), Joel Bernstein (Reb Elye), Steven Braunstein (Ensemble), Rachel Claire (Reyzl), Jason Emanuel (Schloyme), Joy Franz (Sore), Emma Green (Ensemble), Stacey Linnartz (Hindl), Bill Krakauer (The Stranger/Ensemble), Elizabeth Stahlmann (Manke), Molly Stoller (Basha), and Sam Tsoutsouvas (Yankl).
“God of Vengeance” plays at the TBG Theatre, 3rd Floor, 312 West 36th Street (Just off 8th Avenue), New York, NY. The play runs in rotation with Marvell Rep’s “Spring’s Awakening” through Sunday October 28th. Tickets are $25.00 available via OvationTix. For complete performance information, including ticketing, visit http://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/30515
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
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