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A History of The Folksbiene

 

The Eleventh Inheritor
by Moshe Dluzshnovsky

1962-1963 Season
(incomplete cast listings and synopsis)

F
olksbiene Playhouse
175 East Broadway
New York, NY

 

 

 

The Cast of Characters:

 

Tony
Frances Fishbein
Anna Fishbein
Emily Madden
Harry Zang
Shalom Barkin
Anshel Lerner
Clara Green
Joseph Elman
Brocha Steinweich
Charles Kingston
Esther Meltzer
Sol Carlin
Edna
Chaim Feld

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Jacob Belagorsky
Ruth Vool
Zypora Spaisman
Mina Kern
Jacob Holtz
Joshua Zeldis
Morris Adler
Eva Adler
Harry Freifeld
Sarah Stabin
Ely Aurnou
Roslyn Pribulsky
Jack Wiener
Ada Singer
Ben Feivelowitz

Sets: Joseph Stell
Technical Director: Marvin Schwartz

 
 

 
A review from the New York Times, November 22, 1962

"ELEVENTH INHERITOR," YIDDISH PLAY, OFFERS EVENING FOR INTELLECT

"The Eleventh Inheritor," a new Yiddish play by Moshe Dluznowsky, opened at the Folksbiene Playhouse last night, and it was a worthwhile occurrence for present-day Yiddish drama.

Mr. Dluznowsky knows stage technique and people. He is particularly at home in the West Side rooming house, a peculiar institution that is at once a place for collective living and for isolating oneself from the world.

It is here that he has set his characters, each of them nursing an illusion: an old woman who believes that her children need her; the aging would-be actress who yearns to be Lady Macbeth; the artist who has been told by everyone that he is perfect; the alcoholic who pretends to be a ladies' man.

One of the roomers has died, leaving his estate, whatever it may be, to be divided among the ten and his twin brother, upon whose arrival the unsealing of his room and the revelation of his fortune hinges. During the wake the roomers maintain their illusion and have another one to tantalize them -- the promise of a windfall.

Yet despite the illusions they live, they are aware that they are deceiving themselves. Life is not playing a joke on them; they are playing a joke on life, but it is uncertain which party has the last laugh.

At the play's end it becomes known that the deceased roomer, despite his ponderous mail from brokerage offices, has left only eighteen cans filled with eighteen thousand pennies. Even sifting the pennies for collectors' value brings little profit. But in some way the experience has brought some change to lives that had seemed to be stagnant.

Under the direction of David Licht, the play moves smoothly, and the philosophies of the characters are given full opportunity to hold the spotlight despite the presence of a large cast on stage. The performances of all the players wer excellent, and it would be difficult to single out any in what was an unusual group effort.

Perhaps the characterizations of Jacob Holts, as the artist; Sarah Stabin, as the unwanted mother; Zypora Spaisman, as a waspish older sister; Mina Kern, as the frustrated actress, and Joshua Zeldis, as the money-hungry roomer, might merit mention for their strength in the more meaty parts. JOseph Stell's imaginative set constituted a most appropriate background for the action.

"The Eleventh Inheritor" provides an entertaining evening for the intellect that is all too rare in contemporary Yiddish theatre.

-- Richard F. Shepard


 
The Synopsis:
 

The Residents:
 

HARRY ZANG, a defeated aging artist, has an application pending in an Old-Age Home.

EMILY MADDEN, an actress, no longer young. Dreams of playing Lady Macbeth on Broadway.

CHARLES KINGSTON, former teacher, an alcoholic.  Pretends to his neighbors that he has many lovers and makes believe that he spends his nights with them.

BROCHA STEINWEICH, a widowed mother of five daughters who reject her: pretends that they need her and that they give her joy.

ESTHER MELTZER, a Registered Nurse, longs for love but can not find it.

CHANA and FRANCES FISHBEIN, sisters:  the elder an embittered spinster, guardian to Frances who studies dancing.

JOSEPH ELMAN, a recent refugee, loves Chana and wants to marry her.

SHALOM BARKAN  and ANSHEL LERNER, both retired, the former full of plots to get rich quickly; the latter is a pious man who puts all his trust in God.

CLARA GREEN, landlady of the rooming house, knows what is coming to her and demands it.

TONY, superintendent, has his responsibilities and also his rights.

SOL CARLIN, a young opportunist, newest tenant at the rooming house.

CHAIM FIELD, the 11th Inheritor.


 

ACT ONE -- Sunday morning


 

Norman Feld, an old man, roomer in the house where the action takes place, has died.  He leaves a will stipulating that there are to be 11 heirs to his estate: 10 live in the rooming house and the 11th, a twin-brother, must be located.  Harry Zang, to whom the deceased entrusted his will and also the key to his room, refuses to unlock the door before the brother arrives. A week has passed without word from the 11th Inheritor.


 

     Because of the frequent mail that continues to arrive for the deceased from banks, real-estate and stock brokerage firms some of the roomers become incensed with the belief that Norman Feld, whom they knew to live as a poor man, had actually amassed a huge fortune which now is hidden behind the locked door.  Others cannot believe it and they argue.  Shalom Barken is deeply convinced and he tries to convince Anshel Lerner, his roommate, but Lerner sees Barkan's arguments as fantasy and he will not accept them.

(rest of synopsis not available)





 

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