Review: A Shayna Maidel at Playhouse on Park

West Hartford, CT - A SHAYNA MAIDEL is a play written by Barbara Lebow. A beautiful production of this piece runs through November 17 as part of the eleventh season at Playhouse on Park in West Hartford. While the play was originally presented at the Academy Theatre in Atlanta, it subsequently premiered at Hartford Stage in CT. The Playhouse on Park production is produced in partnership Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford.

“A Shayna Maidel is about the lives of six character that we meet.They are deeply affected by the aftermath of the Holocaust, but at the core, they are individuals who struggle to communicate and to connect. They have fears and regrets. Yet despite everything, they laugh. They show incredible hope and resilience. Some made it to America, where immigrants can move forward.” - Dawn Loveland Navarro, director of A SHAYNA MAIDEL

Director Dawn Loveland Navarro brought out the drama in this story of the reunion of two sisters after World War II, one having survived the Nazi concentration camps. There are a handful of chuckles to break up the gripping tale, but given the subject matter, the two acts are heavy indeed. Scenic design by David Lewis was a highly functional set of a West Side of NYC apartment of a post-war career woman that is well-lit by Marcus Abbott in the low-ceilinged space of this playhouse. Kirk Ruby was in charge of the sound design, with songs of the era to punctuate the scenes. Eileen Oconnor gathered many period props in her role as Props Artisan/Set Dresser. Costumes by Lisa Steier were detailed and perfect for the era of American history, March of 1946.

Equity member Laura Sudduth (Julie in LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES on Broadway) played Rose Weiss, a modern young career woman, who was born in Poland but managed to escape the country with her papa before the Nazi occupation. Ms. Sudduth conveyed well the feelings of a person who has had to relegate her Jewish heritage to scrapbooks and vague memories because that is how her domineering father has demanded it. It is a priviledge to watch her character, “a pretty girl,” attempt to connect with her older sister Lusia, who has somehow survived the Holocaust and comes to America to live with her.

“About Mama, I tell you this...How was her life.” - Luisa in A SHAYNA MAIDEL

Katharina Schmidt gave a stunning performance in the role of the Holocaust survivor Lusia Pechenik in her Playhouse debut. I was fascinated to hear the actress switch between the language of a person desperately trying to learn English quickly, Yiddish, and perfect English in her memories, presumably a translation of her native tongue for the benefit of the audience. We have the honor of watching her character deal with her memories of her struggles to survive as well as past family secrets. At turns brave and vulnerable, Ms. Schmidt’s performance was mesmerizing and ultimately heartbreaking; for me, this will be one of the standout performances of the season.

Mitch Greenberg, a member of Actor’s Equity, towered on the stage as the staid Mordechai Weiss in his Playhouse on Park debut. Mr. Greenberg, a working actor for 45 years, reprises this role 21 years after playing it; back then he had to “grey up,” he notes. Julia Tolchin was endearing in the role of Hanna, a young friend of Lusia in the old country, in her debut at Playhouse. Alex Rafala (CUCKOO’S NEST, ANNE FRANK at Playhouse) appeared in the David Pechenik, the husband of Luisa. It was interesting to me to see that this actor played the role of Givola in THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI at Lyra Theater, a play that I only recently became aware of. Krista Lucas, in her Playhouse debut, appeared in memories as the mama of the two sisters.

Kudos must go to dialect coach Jennifer Scapetis-Tycer, a teacher in the UConn MFA and BFA programs, on what had to be a challenge, even for her.

A SHAYNA MAIDEL is presented with one fifteen-minute intermission. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 860-523-5900 x10 or visit www.playhouseonpark.org.

Playhouse on Park’s Young Professional Advisory Board is collecting fall and winter clothing and outerwear for members of our community in need: men, women, teens, children and infants. Coats, sweaters, gloves, scarves and boots. In excellent, new or "like new" condition. Clean, freshly washed, and free of tears, stains or rips. We cannot accept: undergarments and socks. These items will be delivered to Tara’s Closet at Jewish Services which supports mental illness. To learn more visit https://jfshartford.org/community-support/taras-closet.html Please consider bringing a contribution throughout the run of A SHAYNA MAIDEL (October 30 - Nov 17). All sizes needed & hangers preferred.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

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