[FC News]Reviews of A SHAYNA MAIDEL, playing @ JCC / Tri C thru 11/4
Fred Sternfeld
fsternfeld@gmail.com
Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:23:04 -0400
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for more excerpts and/or full reviews and a few new pictures, click
here<http://www.fredsternfeld.com/ashaynamaidelcleveland.htm>
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Excerpts from the Chagrin Valley Times review
by Bob Abelman
"a perfect production"
"Director Fred Sternfeld transforms this story into riveting, engaging
and heart-wrenching
theatre" "amazing sensitivity, grace and artistry" "This is masterful
work"
"... a truly exceptional set by Ben Needham, extraordinary lighting and
sound by Cassandra Goldbach and Stan Kozak, and superb costuming by Aimee
Kluiber"
"=85an astounding cast. Lara Mielcarek =85 a captivating performance full =
of
complexity and nuance. Bernadette Clemens =85 is equally brilliant =85 a
master class in acting."
"Mitchell Fields finds the perfect balance in his depiction of the family
patriarch =85 a survivor bearing incredible guilt despite his controlling a=
nd
stoic facade"
"Ron Cuirle =85 Natalie Green =85 Jeanne Task =85 solid performances in ea=
ch of
these roles are pivotal, for anything less would allow this play to lapse
into excesses of sentimentality or melodrama. Each actor makes all the
right choices. They are wonderful."
"It is rare indeed for a play to be so compelling, a production to be so
extraordinary, and performances to be so thoroughly engaging to be
considered perfect. A Shayna Maidel on the Tri-C stage is that uncommon
commodity. Perfection is fleeting. This play only runs until November 4 i=
n
nearby Highland Hills."
Excerpts from the Cleveland Scene review
By Christine Howey
"a fine play, executed with tender skill"
"Director Fred Sternfeld wisely allows this wrenching story to play out
deliberately and quietly, finding acute moments of pain =97 particularly wh=
en
the father calls out the names of family members, and Lusia, reading from a
list she has kept, ticks off their often horrendous fates"
Excerpts from the Plain Dealer review
by Tony Brown
"right-hearted"
"Sternfeld and his six actors find humor and pathos in this story of two
Polish-Jewish sisters reunited in New York just after World War II" "Both
actresses perform small miracles"
"A substantial Mitchell Fields carps and commands as the stoic, aging
patriarch who can do little but live with his decision to leave Europe when
he could, without his wife and first-born"
"Ron Cuirle, Natalie Green and Jeanne Task make affecting appearances as th=
e
younger daughter's fever-dream ghosts"
"Ben Needham's detailed set transforms the performing arts center at the
Eastern Campus of Cuyahoga Community College into a cozy New York apartment=
"
"... brings soul-cleansing tears to all eyes"
*
**
*A SHAYNA MAIDEL
by Barbara Lebow
continues for two more weekends
*
Literally translated as "a pretty girl," *A Shayna Maidel* conveys the
aftermath of the Holocaust through a poignant, imaginatively conceived
examination of one divided family's experience. Two sisters separated in
childhood=97one raised in America, the other in Poland=97are reunited in Ne=
w
York City in 1946 in the wake of World War II and the Holocaust. After a
15-year separation and the loss of most family members, they are nearly
strangers and struggle to reconnect. *A Shayna Maidel* by Barbara Lebow was
the first winner of The Mandel Jewish Community Center's Dorothy Silver
Playwriting Competition.
*WHEN*: October 18-November 4
Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, and Friday,
November 2 at 10:30 am.
*WHERE*: CCC Eastern Campus Performing Arts Center (4250 Richmond Road in
Highland Hills 44122).
*HOW MUCH*: $24 - October 25, 27, 28, November 1, 2, 3, 4. Discount
tickets are available for JCC members ($21), seniors ($22) and students
($12). On sale at The Mandel JCC (26001 South Woodland, Beachwood 44122),
http://www.clevejcc.org, http://www.tickets.com or 800-766-6048.
*THE CAST*:
Bernadette Clemens*: Rose Weiss
Mitchell B. Fields*: Mordechai Weiss
Lara Mielcarek: Lusia Weiss Pechenik
Ron Cuirle: Duvid Pechenik
Natalie Green: Hanna
Jeanne Task: Mama
*Actor appears through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Unio=
n
of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
*THE ARTISTIC STAFF:
*Directed by Fred Sternfeld
Set design by Ben Needham
Lighting design by Cassandra Goldbach
Costume design by Aimee Kluiber
Sound design by Stan Kozak
Dialect coaching by Beth McGee
Stage managed by Darcy J. Lindner
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<div><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 36px"><b><font face=3D"Verdana" color=3D"#00=
00ff">
<p><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><font size=3D"2"><fo=
nt color=3D"#000000"><font color=3D"#cc0000"><font color=3D"#000000"><font =
size=3D"4">for more excerpts and/or full reviews and a few new picture=
s, click </font>
<a onclick=3D"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href=3D"http://=
www.fredsternfeld.com/ashaynamaidelcleveland.htm" target=3D"_blank"><font s=
ize=3D"4">here</font></a><br></font><br><font color=3D"#000000">-----------=
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------------------------
</font><br><br><font size=3D"4">Excerpts from the Chagrin Valley Times revi=
ew <br><font color=3D"#000000" size=3D"2">by Bob Abelman</font><br></font><=
/font>"a perfect production"</font></font></span> </p>
<p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><font size=3D"2"><fo=
nt color=3D"#000000"><span style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"Director Fred=
Sternfeld transforms this story into riveting, engaging and </span><span s=
tyle=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
heart-wrenching </span><span style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">theatre" &qu=
ot;amazing sensitivity, grace and artistry"<span> </span>&=
quot;This is masterful work" </span></font></font></p>
<p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style=3D"FONT-=
FAMILY: Arial"><font size=3D"2"><font color=3D"#000000">"... a truly e=
xceptional set by Ben Needham, extraordinary lighting and sound by Cassandr=
a Goldbach and Stan Kozak, and superb costuming by Aimee Kluiber"
</font></font></span></p>
<p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style=3D"FONT-=
FAMILY: Arial"><font size=3D"2"><font color=3D"#000000">"=85an astound=
ing cast.<span> </span>Lara Mielcarek =85 a captivating performance f=
ull of complexity and nuance.=20
<span> </span>Bernadette Clemens =85 is equally brilliant =85 a maste=
r class in acting." </font></font></span></p>
<p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style=3D"FONT-=
FAMILY: Arial"><font size=3D"2"><font color=3D"#000000">"Mitchell Fiel=
ds finds the perfect balance <span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: A=
rial">
<font size=3D"2">in his depiction of the family patriarch</font> </span>=85=
a survivor bearing incredible guilt despite his controlling and stoic faca=
de"<span> </span></font></font></span></p>
<p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style=3D"FONT-=
FAMILY: Arial"><font size=3D"2"><font color=3D"#000000">"Ron Cuirle =
=85 Natalie Green<span> </span>=85 Jeanne Task =85 solid performances=
in each of these roles are pivotal, for anything less would allow this pla=
y to lapse into excesses of sentimentality or melodrama.=20
<span> </span>Each actor makes all the right choices.<span> &nbs=
p; </span>They are wonderful."</font></font></span></p><span style=3D"=
FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><font color=3D"#000000" size=3D"2">&qu=
ot;It is rare indeed for a play to be so compelling, a production to be so =
extraordinary, and performances to be so thoroughly engaging to be consider=
ed perfect.=20
<span> </span><em>A Shayna Maidel</em> on the Tri-C stage is that unc=
ommon commodity.<span> </span>Perfection is fleeting.<span> </s=
pan>This play only runs until November 4 in nearby Highland Hills." <b=
r><br>
<p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <=
/span></p>
<h2 style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font color=3D"#cc0000" size=3D"4">Excerp=
ts from the Cleveland Scene review</font></h2>
<p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><span style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">By C=
hristine Howey</span></b></p>
<p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><span style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">&nbs=
p;</span></b></p>
<p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"a=
fine play, executed with tender skill"</span></p>
<p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <=
/span></p><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><font size=3D=
"2">"Director Fred Sternfeld wisely allows this wrenching story to pla=
y out deliberately and quietly, finding acute moments of pain =97 particula=
rly when the father calls out the names of family members, and Lusia, readi=
ng from a list she has kept, ticks off their often horrendous fates"=
=20
<br><br></font><font face=3D"arial,sans-serif"><font size=3D"2"><font color=
=3D"#cc0000" size=3D"4"><strong>Excerpts from the Plain Dealer review</stro=
ng></font><br></font></font><font size=3D"2"><font face=3D"arial,sans-serif=
" color=3D"#000000">
by Tony Brown<br><br>"right-hearted"<br><br>"Sternfeld and h=
is six actors find humor and pathos in this story of two Polish-Jewish sist=
ers reunited in New York just after World War II" "Both actresses=
perform small miracles"=20
<br><br>"A substantial Mitchell Fields carps and commands as the stoic=
, aging patriarch who can do little but live with his decision to leave Eur=
ope when he could, without his wife and first-born"<br><br>"Ron C=
uirle, Natalie Green and Jeanne Task make affecting appearances as the youn=
ger daughter's fever-dream ghosts"=20
<br><br>"Ben Needham's detailed set transforms the performing arts=
center at the Eastern Campus of Cuyahoga Community College into a cozy New=
York apartment"<br><br>"... brings soul-cleansing tears to all e=
yes"=20
</font><br></font></span></font></span></font></b></span> </div>
<div><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 36px"><b><font face=3D"Verdana" color=3D"#00=
00ff"></font></b></span> </div>
<div><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 36px"><b><font face=3D"Verdana" color=3D"#00=
00ff">A SHAYNA MAIDEL<br><font size=3D"4">by Barbara Lebow</font><br><font =
color=3D"#cc0000" size=3D"4"><em>continues for two more weekends</em></font=
><br> </font>
</b></span></div><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12px"><font face=3D"Verdana"></=
font></span>
<div><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12px"><font face=3D"Verdana">Literally trans=
lated as "a <span name=3D"st">pretty</span> <span name=3D"st">girl</sp=
an>," <b><i>A Shayna Maidel</i></b> conveys the aftermath of the Holoc=
aust through a poignant, imaginatively conceived examination of one divided=
family's experience. Two sisters separated in childhood=97one ra=
ised in America, the other in Poland=97are reunited in New York City in 194=
6 in the wake of World War II and the Holocaust. After a 15-year sepa=
ration and the loss of most family members, they are nearly strangers and s=
truggle to reconnect.=20
<b><i>A Shayna Maidel</i></b> by Barbara Lebow was the first winner of The =
Mandel Jewish Community Center's Dorothy Silver Playwriting Competition=
.</font></span></div>
<div><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12px"><font face=3D"Verdana"> <br><b>WH=
EN</b>: October 18-November 4<br>Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 8=
pm, Sundays at 2 pm, and Friday, November 2 at 10:30 am.<br> <br><b>W=
HERE</b>: CCC Eastern Campus Performing Arts Center (4250 Richmond Ro=
ad in Highland Hills 44122). =20
<br> <br><b>HOW MUCH</b>: $24 - October 25, 27, 28, Novembe=
r 1, 2, 3, 4. Discount tickets are available for JCC members ($21), s=
eniors ($22) and students ($12). On sale at The Mandel JCC (26001 Sou=
th Woodland, Beachwood 44122),=20
</font><a onclick=3D"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href=3D"=
http://www.clevejcc.org,/" target=3D"_blank"><font face=3D"Verdana">http://=
www.clevejcc.org,</font></a><font face=3D"Verdana"> </font><a onclick=3D"re=
turn top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href=3D"http://www.tickets.com/=
" target=3D"_blank">
<font face=3D"Verdana">http://www.tickets.com</font></a><font face=3D"Verda=
na"> or 800-766-6048.<br> <br><b>THE CAST</b>:<br>Bernadette Clemens*:=
Rose Weiss<br>Mitchell B. Fields*: Mordechai Weiss<br>Lara Mie=
lcarek: Lusia Weiss Pechenik=20
<br>Ron Cuirle: Duvid Pechenik<br>Natalie Green: Hanna <br>Jeanne Task: Mam=
a<br>*Actor appears through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association,=
the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.=
=20
<br><br> <br></font><font face=3D"Verdana"><b>THE ARTISTIC STAFF:<br><=
/b>Directed by Fred Sternfeld<br>Set design by Ben Needham<br>Lighting desi=
gn by Cassandra Goldbach<br>Costume design by Aimee Kluiber<br>Sound design=
by Stan Kozak=20
<br>Dialect coaching by Beth McGee<br>Stage managed by Darcy J. Lindner<br>=
</font></span></div>
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