Two teenage Jewish boys meet as rivals in a baseball game and begin an unlikely friendship, navigating the opposite political and religious views of their fathers.https://griffinshare.fontbonne.edu/mst-programs/1011/thumbnail.jp

Posner, Aaron

Potok, Chaim

English

GriffinShare @ Fontbonne University

St. Louis Eats and Drinks With Joe and Ann PollackJoe and Ann Pollack, St. Louis' most experienced food writers, lead a tour of restaurants,wines, shops and other interesting places. When we travel, you will travel with us. When weeat, drink, cook, entertain or read, when we go to the movies or theater, we'll share ourknowledge and opinions. Come along for the ride!! Copyright 2010 Joe Pollack and AnnLemons PollackHomeArchivesProfileSubscribeOctober 23, 2010The ChosenIn a community with three Jews there are four synagogues--one for the divergent faiths held by each, and a fourthone to provide the space where none of them would be caught dead. These attitudes, harder than pressed steel or ajilted lover's heart, are on display in "The Chosen," a powerful, passionate adaptation of Chaim Potok's novel bythe Mustard Seed Theatre at Fontbonne University.The searing drama, adapted for the stage by Aaron Posner, opened last night and will run through Nov. 7. "MyName is Asher Lev," also based on a Potok novel, is in its final weekend by the New Jewish Theatre, and AdenaPotok, the author's widow, spoke last night at Fontbonne and will repeat tonight at the Jewish Comunity Center.Nothing in the history of the world divides people more or creates more turmoil than religion, and Potok (who alsowas a rabbi) shows it beautifully in a Brooklyn neighborhood during and shortly after World War II. Deanna Jent'sdirection is perfectly on target and Courtney Sanzaro's gorgeous set provides the proper aura for the evening.The home of David Malter (Jim Leibrecht), a liberal activist and Zionist, working toward a Jewish state, iscluttered with books and papers, all of them obviously read and loved. In contrast, the study of Reb Saunders,leader of the ultra-conservative Hasidim , has tall, elegant, austere bookshelves with hundreds of books that aredusted but never read. Saunders reads, and lives by, the Torah and the Talmud. The former comprises the first fivebooks of the Bible; the latter explains the former in lengthy essays. In the end they deliver God's messages toSaunders, and he passes them on to his congregation. No one disagrees. No one deviates.Saunders, a ringing, powerful performance by Richard Lewis, treats his son the same way. Danny (DavidChandler) will be a Hasidic rabbi, a successor to his father, but the boy is not sure. He lives in a world of silence;father and son rarely speak, and never about anything important. Danny's world begins to open on a baseballdiamond when his yeshiva plays baseball against young Reuven Malter's yeshiva, and Saunders hits a line drivethat pitcher Malter takes in the right eye.In an interesting approach, two actors portray Reuven Malter and there is occasionally a little confusion. AdamMoskal is Reuven for the time-span of the play and he's very good, with chubby pink cheeks that add a perfectglow. Justin Ivan Brown is a fine older Reuven, looking back through time (maybe 20 years) to explain, narrateand occasionally portray another person. It's a difficult part, and Brown handles it extremely well, though itsometimes took me aback when they both were speaking, practically a dialogue.Reuven and Danny become friends, with the eventual blessing of both fathers, and the Rebbe, when he discoversthat Reuven is about as smart as his own son, uses him as a conduit to send information to Danny, and to seekinformation as well. At one point, when the Rebbe discovers Malter's strong Zionism, he breaks off the friendshipSt. Louis Eats and Drinks With Joe and Ann Pollack: The Chosen http://stlouiseats.typepad.com/st_louis_eats_and_drinks_/2010/1...1 of 2 10/26/10 12:07 PMbetween Danny and Reuven, and the scene is directed as a brilliant understatement.The acting is solid throughout the cast, and the play also benefits from Michael Sullivan's sparkling lightingdesign. Sullivan lit Hot City's "Equus" recently, and did it to glorious effect. It's a strong, impressive production.And as the lights went down for the final time, Mrs. Potok, who was sitting behind me, whispered the last word."Bravo," she said. This critic agrees.The Chosen, a production of Mustard Seed Theatre, opened last night at Fontbonne University,and will play through Nov. 7Posted at 07:51 AM in Theater/Film Reviews | PermalinkFavorite | Reblog (0)TrackBackTrackBack URL for this entry:http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341c0b6a53ef0133f5494240970bListed below are links to weblogs that reference The Chosen:CommentsVerify your CommentPreviewing your CommentPosted by:  | This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted. Post    Edit   Your comment could not be posted. Error type:Your comment has been saved. Comments are moderated and will not appear until approved by the author. Postanother commentThe letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. Thisprevents automated programs from posting comments.Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate. Continue  St. Louis Eats and Drinks With Joe and Ann PollackPowered by TypePadSt. Louis Eats and Drinks With Joe and Ann Pollack: The Chosen http://stlouiseats.typepad.com/st_louis_eats_and_drinks_/2010/1...2 of 2 10/26/10 12:07 PM

The Chosen

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The Chosen

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