A History of The Folksbiene
 

At the Crossroads
by Harry Kalmanowitz

1992-1993 Season

Central Synagogue Auditorium
123 East 55th Street
New York, NY

 

From the right: Mary Soreanu and Zypora Spaisman Courtesy of YIVO

A review of this play appeared in the New York Times on November 11, 1992: Theater in Review by Lawrence Van Gelder What's a widowed mother to do? That nice Benjamin Glick (Yiddish for good fortune) is coming to propose marriage to her, bringing a ring -- gold, emeralds and "a diamond for a diamond" -- to prove his love. To marry or not to marry? Brother Simkha would be all for the marriage. After all, this easygoing fellow is madly in love with the ditsy Tzippi. Uncle Nathan, a committed bachelor who writes romances, is another cup of tea. He's against men marrying. "But," he allows, "women may marry as often as they like." Miriam's mother, Esther (Bobsy to her grandchildren), herself a widow, has some advice based on experience: Don't sacrifice your life for the sake of the children. And what do the children have to say? Flora, who will grow up to study voice at Juilliard, is in favor of the marriage. But Josh, who will become a doctor, is very much against it. He threatens suicide. So what's a widowed mother to do? And once she has done it, will it prove to have been a wise decision? The answers in "At the Crossroads" take two acts, three scenes and thirteen years to arrive. The play is offered with simultaneous live translation as the opening attraction of the seventy-seventh season of Folksbiene, the Yiddish-language theater, at the Central Synagogue, 223 East 55th Street. "At the Crossroads," written by Harry Kalmanowitz (1886-1966) and adapted by Miriam Kressyn, is the sort of play that lies far closer to soap opera than to high drama. There are lines like "I have a right to live my own life." There are mild chuckles, usually provided at the expense of Tzippi (Celina Gray); and Tzippi pushes the evening to its most rousing moment with an uninhibited rendition of "Yidishe Meydl" late in the second act. Under the direction of Bryna Turetsky, the cast -- including such popular veterans of Yiddish theatre as Mary Soreanu as the long-suffering Miriam, David Rogow as the mischievous Uncle Nathan, Zypora Spaisman as Esther, and such relative newcomers as Ms. Gray and Richard Carlow as Simkha -- goes through its paces with the greatest of ease. But "At the Crossroads" poses no great demands on cast or audience, except perhaps an occasional struggle to hear the translation. Welcome though it may be as an example of the endangered species that is Yiddish theater, "At the Crossroads" is more relic than refreshment.

The Cast of Characters:   The Synopsis:   Act 1:      Flora and Josh, Miriam's children, are in the living room doing schoolwork.  Their Uncle Simkha enters and tells the children that he is bringing his fiancé for dinner that evening.  The children's Great Uncle Nathan, a writer and confirmed bachelor, joins them.  He and Simkha are exchanging views on love and marriage when Esther, fondly known as Bobsy to her grandchildren, comes in from the kitchen.  Josh upon hearing that Benjamin Glick, his mother's suitor, will also be joining them for dinner angrily runs out of the house.  Esther sends Flora out after him so that she can discuss Josh's unwillingness to accept Miriam's & Ben's impending marriage.  Miriam comes home to find out from Flora that Josh is upset.

The children cannot accept the idea of someone taking their late father's place. She explains to her children that although she is planning to marry Benjamin Glick, no one can ever take their father's place in their hearts.

Simkha returns with his garrulous bride-to-be Tzippi, who rambles on until Benjamin Glick's arrival. Miriam greets Benjamin as the rest of the family adjourns to the dining room. Benjamin presents Miriam with an engagement ring, but Miriam cannot accept it. She explains that their wedding most be postponed until Josh can make peace with the idea of their marriage. Ben calls Josh in to try to win the boy over. He is unsuccessful and resigned to the fact that the marriage will not take place, then he leaves. Miriam is left alone.

Act 2, Scene 1:

Thirteen years have passed and Miriam has prospered as a businessman. Josh is a doctor and Flora is graduating from Juilliard. Uncle Nathan lives in Philadelphia where he teaches and writes romance novels. Esther is seated in the living room, reading one of his novels when Flora enters and sings the song she will sing at graduation. simkha, whose wife is always playing cards, is in need of a little companionship and drops in to visit his family. Bobsy explains that over time the nature of romance changes into a different kind of love -- "a quiet love."

Nathan, on vacation pays a visit to the family where he and Simkha continue to exchange views on love and marriage; only this time it is Nathan who is the romantic. To Esther's delight, Nathan has met a woman. Miriam comes from work and Josh soon joins them. Josh cannot stay for dinner because he has a date. Miriam does not approve of his girlfriend and an argument ensues. During the course of the argument Miriam warns that Josh's girlfriend is his wife. Miriam is furious and reminds Josh of the sacrifice she made for him.

Miriam, at her des, writes a letter as she thinks of all that has happened.

Act 2, Scene 2:

It is the day of Miriam's party for her business associates, office staff and family. Flora enters while Esther is on the phone with Tzippi discussing  Simkha's blood pressure medicine. Miriam is in her room. She had gone to Joshua's home to invite him and his wife to the party, but was not welcomed.

Simkha arrives and shares the news that Tzippi is pregnant. Tzippi and then Nathan come to the house ready for the party, and as Tzippi shows off her talents Miriam enters. At Esther and Miriam's request, Flora escorts Simkha and Tzippi to the party.

Josh, having received a message from his mother, comes to see her. They cannot reconcile their differences and Josh leaves. Nathan follows him.

Benjamin Glick, having returned from Israel, come by and he and Miriam have an opportunity to rekindle their friendship.

Esther has a mother/daughter talk with Miriam. Miriam listens to her mother's words and makes an important decision.