A History of The Folksbiene
Mirele Efros
by Jacob Gordin
1994-1995 Season
Central Synagogue Auditorium
123 East 55th Street
New York, NY
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A review of this play appeared in the New York
Times on November 2, 1994:
A Battle of Women In a Yiddish Classic:
Folksbiene Playhouse
by D.J.R. Bruckner
Women rule the roost and battle
one another over control of the men around them in Jacob
Gordin's play, "Mirele Efros," and the women in the cast
absolutely dominate the stage in the performance of this Yiddish
classic.
This 1896 work, about a dominating
but vulnerable widow losing a family war with her
daughter-in-law, is light on plot and depends to an unusual
degree on the skill of the director and the cast for its
effects. The Folksbiene production, under the direction of Bryna
Wasserman Turetsky, shows it can still provoke laughter and, in
the end, some dismay.
In the title role Zypora Spaisman,
who made her stage debut in this play in Poland before World War
II, is a Mirele whose intelligence and willpower, backed by
sarcastic wit, can utterly intimidate those around her. But Ms.
Spaisman also makes the audience feel the widow's pain and
despair.
Shifra Lerer as Makhle the servant
is funny and moving as she gives both voice and gesture to some
of Mirele's unspoken feelings. Mina Bern, as the mother-in-law
of Mirele's oldest son, is a superbly comic rustic with a
wickedly irreverent eye and tongue. And Raquel Yossiffon as
Mirele's daughter-in-law is convincingly innocent at the outset
and later just steely enough to face down the old widow.
Among the male roles only Shalmen,
the administrator of Mirele's estate, has any depth, and Norman
Kruger brings to it the right dignity, tinged with a sense of
affront.
"Mirele Efros," running at least
through December, is performed in Yiddish, and simultaneous
English translation is available.
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Cast photo of "Mirele
Efros"
Courtesy of YIVO
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The Cast of Characters:
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photo: (left
to right) Zypora Spaisman and Raquel Yossiffon. |
The Synopsis
The play takes
place in Mirele Efros' home in Grodno.
Scene 1,
Turn of the century; a rainy day.
Scene 2,
Saturday evening; three years later.
Scene I.
Mirele Efros' house, six years later
Scene 2.
The Efros home; ten years later
Makhle,
Mirele's maid and long time friend, is straightening
up the sitting room and unpacking gifts for Mirele's
son Yosele and his bride-to-be, Sheyndele. As she
works, she speaks about the forthcoming wedding and
her relationship with Mirele.
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Shalmen, Mirele's
trusted administrator and friend, arrives. He has
been to see Shayndele and her parents and tells
Makhle that, although the family is poor, they are
descendants of a rabbinical dynasty and Sheyndele is
beautiful. Shalmen goes off to attend to
business with Mirele. As Makhle prepares to put up
tea, the future in-laws, Nukemste and Khane-Dvoyre
arrive to discuss the marriage arrangements. Mirele,
disgusted with their demands and behavior, calls off
the match and sends them away. Yosele and his
brother, Donye, are called for. Yosele is
heartbroken when he learns that there will not be a
wedding and pleads with his mother to reconsider.
Mirele yields to her son's wishes. Nukemste and
Khane-Dvoyre return and are told of Mirele's change
of heart, but with the condition that the wedding
take place that evening. Yosele mets Sheyndele for
the first time and everyone toasts the happy couple.
ACT I, Scene 2
Mirele recites
the end of Sabbath prayer and is sitting in a
darkened room as Makhle enters. Makhle turns up the
lights and they talk about how tense the atmosphere
in the house has become since Sheyndele has been
living there. Mirele retires to her room as
Sheyndele enters. Fighting for control of the
household, Sheyndele insists that Mirele's chair be
removed from the room. Mirele returns and invites
Shalmen to play chess, while Sheyndele, against her
mother-in-law's wishes, begins a card game with
Donye and Yosele. Both women eye each other as they
simultaneously play their respective games. Donye,
influenced by Sheyndele and her parents, insults
Shalmen's integrity causing him to leave. A
confrontation between the two women ensues,
resulting in Mirele relinquishing the business to
her children for the sake of peace.
ACT II, Scene 1
Nukemste
returns from a business trip drunk. Yosele is
displeased with the way Nekemste has been conducting
their family business. When Donye insults Nukemste,
Sheyndele questions Donye's business transactions.
Yosele tries to maintain peace, but the argument
escalates until Sheyndele takes the money from
Donye's coat. Mirele, observing the behavior of
their son and daughter-in-law, is shocked.
Shalmen, now in
business for himself, visits Mirele to ask for a
donation for the building of a new hospital. Mirele
is humiliated when Sheyndele stops Yosele from
making a contribution. Makhle offers her money, but
Mirele, embarrassed, turns her down. Shalmen leaves
but returns shortly thereafter. Makhle confides in
him that tension between Mirele and Sheyndele
continues to grow, and the situation is awful in the
Efros home. Sheyndele, having overheard their
conversation, waits for Shalmen to leave and then
attacks Makhle. Makhle runs to Mirele who confronts
Sheyndele and demands that she change her behavior.
Mirele, realizing that she is fighting a losing
battle, feels she has no other choice but to leave
her home and with Makhle move in with Shalmen.
Act II, Scene 2
It is the day
of Yosele and Sheyndele's son's (Shloymele) bar
mitzvah, and Makhle has been sent by Mirele to help
with the preparations She recalls the past years and
is saddened that Mirele will not be there. Nukemste
and Shloyemel come home to practice for his bar
mitzvah. Yosele and his son have a talk, and
Shloymele cannot understand why his grandmother will
not come and resolves to go to Shalmen's house and
convince her to come to his celebration. Yosele asks
Makhle to follow him. Unexpectedly, Shalmen arrives.
Makhle runs in with the news that Mirele is coming,
and Shloymele announces his grandmother's arrival,
and the family is reunited on this special day.
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