AWAKE AND SING GETS A SUPERB STAGING AT AURORA
Bessie Berger (c. Ellen Ratner) lets off steam as Myron (r, Charles Dean) and Jacob (back, Ray Reinhardt) watch in AWAKE AND SING! By Clifford Odets, directed by Joy Carlin. Aurora Theatre 2081 Addison Street Berkeley, CA. 843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org. August 27 –
ODETS’ DATED PLAY AWAKE AND SING GETS A SUPERB STAGING AT
With the present state of economic crisis, it seems prophetic that Aurora Theatre Company is opening its 18th season, focusing on “family and fortune”, with a Depression-era drama by Clifford Odets. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival in
Odets’ early writings, especially Waiting for Lefty, are agitprop plays that galvanized audiences of the Great Depression into political and working class rebellion. In Awake and Sing, there is an agitprop feeling yet is a very personal play gleaned from his background of being part of a Jewish family who historically are matriarchal. The Berger family of this play is a prime example. Matriarch Bessie, given an award winning performance by Ellen Ratner, is the glue that keeps the family together and at the same time is the source of family turmoil. She has emasculated her husband Myron (Charles Dean), domineers Hennie (Rebecca White) her marriageable daughter, makes her idealistic father Jacob (Ray Reinhardt) insignificant and attempts to control the love life of her young son Ralph (Patrick Russell). The only family member she cannot dominate, and whom she admires, is her brother Morty (Victor Talmadge) who survives the depression by exploiting his dress factory workers. She justifies her actions emphasizing the she does not want to be evicted from the apartment like the old woman down the street.
The three generations of the Berger family live under one roof with a paying boarder Moe (Rod Gnapp) to help pay the daily expenses. Moe has fought in the Great War and for his services has a wooden leg to replace the one shot off on Armistice Day. The play evolves over one year with the hardships of the depression becoming more pressing. Although Odets attempts to give an upbeat ending with the youngest Berger espousing the words from Isaiah, used by his dead grandfather, “Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust”, the play is a family tragedy. Hennie is forced into an arranged marriage to Russian immigrant Sam (Anthony Nemirovsky) who is not the father of her baby. Grandfather Jacob commits suicide making Ralph the beneficiary of his life insurance policy thus giving Ralph a chance to “awake and sing.” Hennie runs off with Moe, deserting Sam and her baby all in the name of love.
The actors make this play worth seeing. Septogenarian Ray Reinhardt has not lost a step since he first tread the boards 50 years ago playing in Golden Boy. Charles Dean, with the charm and wit of the ultimate professional attracts the hearts of the audience with superb subtlety. Rod Gnapp invests the hard talking Moe with humanism masking the inner resentment of the unfairness of his injury. Victor Talmadge handles the unsympathetic role of Morty with pitch perfect dignity. Rebecca White and Patrick Russell exude the inner conflict written into their parts. Unfortunately, Anthony Nemirovsky’s has the least chance to display his ability since Odets has given the part of Sam short shrift. As mentioned above Ellen Ratner as the matriarch from hell is perfect.
Joy Carlin has molded this superb cast into an ensemble group and, for my part, makes the play highly recommended.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
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