Reading the sprawling and amazing 1967 Chaim Potok novel The Chosen at the age of 13 was one of the steps that led me to rediscover my Jewish heritage. I never imagined that two decades later, I'd see a theatrical presentation of that work, let alone a production of The Chosen that worked as well as that by Arizona Jewish Theatre Company. It seems to have beaten all of the odds. Despite coming from a deep and intense novel, the script has married the mid-1940s coming of age story about two Jewish boys, one a strict Hassidic and one a Conservative Zionist, with the religious observations that make this novel transcendental. It has incorporated the use of a narrator, usually the death knell of a play script, and successfully weaved the older version of one of the boys through the work to great effect, especially in a second act scene where he has a mystical discussion with his younger self. Credit adaptor Aaron Posner for working well with novelist Chaim Potok. Kudos also to Director David Ellenstein, whose attention to detail has resulted in a presentation on which you can bounce a quarter.
There are many strengths to this production. Ellenstein has drawn a spectacular performance from almost every one of his cast. His blocking is invigorating, his vision of the piece precise. He has gotten an amazing set from Scenic Designer Mike Brooks, in which the story is underscored by the sets split persona, and moody lighting from Michael J. Eddy. He has dared to take chances, such as risking hokey by blocking a slow-motion scene that works instead to devastating effect. Most impressively, he loves and trusts this newish material, and it shows.
Welcome back, Michael Tassoni, who explained after the show that he'd taken a year off. Despite that time away from the theatre, his skills are still sharp. This 32-year-old plays half his age so believably, I rejoice that he's returned to the stage. His character arc for conservative Reuven Malter is masterfully handled. He packs power not only into his lines, but into his carefully weighed pauses, fleshing out his character even more. Christopher Williams, fresh from his triumph in Angels in America, plays the Hassidic Danny Saunders with finesse. He is at turns exuberant and aggravating, and save for one moment near the end, when his conversion is a bit underplayed for my taste, the remainder of his presentation is remarkable.
The grandest performance comes from Robert Grossman as Danny's stern father, Reb. Grossman is Hassidim personified, and his small stature is in direct proportion to his overwhelming and commanding presence. With the power that he imbues in his role, it's not hard to believe that Grossman's character singlehandedly led an entire community of his followers from the steppes of Russia to Brooklyn's Williamsburg community. Not as strong is Mike Lawler as Reuven's equally driven father, David. During the first act, Lawler's voice fluctuated, his accent wavered, and he indicated his illness through his forced coughing. As he seemed to settle easier into the role in the second act, there's always the possibility that Lawler's hesitancies were only an opening night phenomena. Mathew Zimmerer is in the unenviable position of playing the narrator role, the older Reuven. In most plays, standing to the side of scenes and watching can be tortuous, but his observation and subsequent commentaries are refreshingly well handled.
I was pleased to see a full house in AJTC's home for this wonderful and remarkable work, even though my companion and I were the only ones to deliver the much-deserved standing ovation. I can only hope that this level of support continues throughout the run. Since moving to the Viad Playhouse on the Park, Producer Janet Arnold's work seems to have been steadily improving, now having offered several impressive shows in a row. This, however, is undoubtedly the best AJTC offering I've ever seen, and highly recommend everyone to see this show and support this rising company.
Production Details:
The Chosen Adapted by Aaron
Posner and Chaim Potok from the novel by Chaim Potok
Arizona Jewish Theatre
Company
The Viad Playhouse on the Park, Phoenix (For a map to this location, click
here)
(602) 264-0402
November 3rd - 18th, 2001