A review from the New York
Times, November 19, 1967:
"THEATER: THE FOLKSBIENE"
Yiddish Troupe Offers 'Prince Reuvaini,' Powerful Drama on a
Messianic Theme
By Richard F. Shepard
Two Yiddish dramas opening in one
week -- it may not make the season, but it makes news that has
not hit New York in a long time.
The Folksbiene, that sturdy and
prolific company of Yiddish theatre-lovers, opened "Prince
Reuvaini" in its East Broadway house Friday night, just a day
after the visiting Warsaw players opened "Mother Courage." Where
"Mother Courage" was universal and pacific, "Prince Reuvaini"
made the point that a people must preserve itself, by fighting
if necessary.
The new play, which will run
weekends, has been lavishly mounted with striking stage decor
and gorgeous costumes. It is not at all a modern type of play,
often plodding, often preaching, yet it has something to say in
the traditional style that deserves a showcase. And the
Folksbiene, under David Licht's direction, manages to get the
message across.
"Prince Reuvaini" has as much
meaning, perhaps, in its creation as in its utterances. It was
written by David Bergelson, a Russian Jew, who was killed in
1952 for his activities in behalf of Jewish culture.
The play deals with a historical
character, David Reuvaini, who appeared in Italy, Spain and
Portugal during the early 1500's and was hailed by Jews and
Marranos (ostensible Christian converts who secretly remained
Jews) as the Messiah comes to save them from the Inquisition.
Reuvaini treated with Christian
kings and projected alliances against the Turks. According to
Bergelson, he claimed only to be a man strong in his faith and
rich in his people. But he had the charisma that launched mass
enthusiasm. Even the disclosure that he was not a prince from a
far land did not sap his popularity.
His disciples are tried, Reuvaini
is reviled, yet the end of the play finds him an even stronger
man, leading the Jews in a futile fight against the forces of
oppression.
Michal Michalovic makes a prince
of splendidly heroic proportions. David Rogow, as the Marrano
whose reconversion to Judaism and advocacy of the prince leads
him to the stake, infuses his role with strong emotion. Jack
Rechtzeit gives a lovely performance as the Pope's
unconscionable Jewish physician, who is charged with
investigating Reuvaini.
Zypora Spaisman and Minnie Kern
are impressive aristocrats, while Diane Cypkin injects a note of
both youth and song as a young Marrano girl. Joshua Zeldis is at
his usual best as Reuvaini's aide, and Harry Rubin appears as a
distinguished citizen and as an awesome cardinal.
The Folksbiene is an amateur
company with a professional staff and the
more-than-money-could-buy attention it has given to this year's
show is evident as soon as the lights go out.
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