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A History of The Folksbiene
Double Identity
by Sholem Aleichem
1995-1996 Season
Central Synagogue Auditorium
123 East 55th Street
New York, NY
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From right: Zypora Spaisman and Jennifer Bern-Vogel
Courtesy of YIVO
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A review for this play
appeared in the New York Times on December 7, 1955:
From Sholem Aleichem, a Tale of
Love, Two Men and a Woman
by Lawrence Van Gelder
If Yiddish theater is a dying art,
somebody forgot to send word to the Folksbiene Playhouse (123
East 55th Street, Manhattan), where a lively, funny, poignant
new musical, "Double Identity," is in its world premiere run.
Among its assets may be counted
the wise and witty Sholem Aleichem comedy that provides the
show's solid foundation and the ear-catching score by Ben
Schaechter, whose of the Jewish faith.
The friends -- Ivan (Vanya)
Ivanovitsh Ivanov, the Gentile son of a Russian general, and
Hersh Shneyerson, a medal-winning Jewish scholar -- agree to
exchange identities before going off to seek admission to a
university. Hersh says Vanya has no idea how hard it is to be a
Jew.
And when the wealthy, aristocratic
Vanya (Steve Sterner), trying to pass himself off as Shneyerson,
rents a room from the Shapiro family and meets the nubile Betty
Shapiro (Jennifer Bern-Vogel), the pot is just beginning to
simmer That's because Shneyerson (Harry Peerce), now Vanya, has
eyes for Betty, too, and Betty cannot marry outside her faith.
And Betty's mother, Sore (the comic gem Zypora Spaisman), who
has one eye out for a good catch and another for something
fishy. Toss in Mr. Shapiro (Ino Toper), who hears that a fellow
named Ivanov has consulted a rabbi about converting to Judaism
so he can marry Betty, stir with Russians yearning to spoil
Passover with a pogrom and the pot reaches full boil.
The results are delightful. |
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The Cast of Characters: |
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The Synopsis: |
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The play takes place in Russia in 1913
A celebration -- students are about to enter
the university. Vanya (Ivan Ivanovitsh Ivanov), a gentile and Hersh
Shneyerson, a Jew, agree to trade places for a year, enough time for Ivanov
to find out how hard it is to be a Jew in Russia.
Among other things, one
of the hardest conditions imposed on a Jew was the "pravozhitelstvo" -- a
residence permit, official permission to live in a given city and to attend
a university.
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Vanya, impersonating Shneyerson, is looking
for a room to rent. He settles with the Shapiro family and takes a liking
to Betty, the young and beautiful daughter of Dovid and Sore Shapiro. His
friend Shneyerson, who also falls in love with Betty tries to dissuade
Ivanov from his pursuit of Betty. When Dovid Shapiro find out that their
new boarder is a Jewish student, he is baffled by his ignorance of Jewish
culture and matters of utmost importance to a Jew, specifically, securing a
"pravozhitelstvo." He arranges with a friend who is local dentist to
provide his young boarder with a work permit in order to be eligible for a
residence permit.
After a series of mishaps, Vanya finds out
how hard and restricting it is to be a Jew.
Betty is about to celebrate her birthday.
Sore, her mother, is constantly at odds with her daughter. Right before the
party, Sore enters into a discussion with Shneyerson, who is impersonating
Ivanov, drilling him about her border. He, on the other hand, wants to know
if Ivanov, impersonating Shneyerson, has declared his feelings for Betty.
Sore immediately suspects the border and her daughter of carrying on a love
affair. Dovid Shapiro arrives with good news about the "pravozhitelstvo,"
but once he finds out that something is going on between his daughter and
the border, he is determined to make it clear that Jewish laws and customs
must be observed. Betty's friends arrive for the birthday party and strong
feelings are exchanged about the state of being a Jew in Russia.
Ivanov and Shneyerson fight over Betty.
Shneyerson is accusing Ivanov of scheming and warns him to stay away from
Betty, primarily, not to forget who he really is.
Ivanov consults with Rabbi Levi Shapiro on
the possibilities of conversion to Judaism. The Rabbi tells him that
conversion based on love for a girl is not advisable. As soon as Ivanov
leaves, Dovid Shapiro comes to see the Rabbi. He wants to know if it is
permitted to have a gentile at the Passover table. The Rabbi tells Dovid
that Ivanov has consulted him regarding the possibility of conversion
because he has fallen in love with his daughter. Dovid is distraught at the
thought that Betty has fallen in love with a gentile and is about to
betray the Jewish people. In the meantime, rumors of a blood libel spread.
The police are about to search Jewish homes for suspects. A worried Dovid
runs home to celebrate the first night of Passover. Ivanov is in love with
Betty. Shneyerson warns Ivanov against it. Betty is in love with one of
them. Dovid sings about the dangers of the world.
Scene 4
As Dovid is getting ready for the "seder,"
he shares the bad news with Sore about their daughter's entanglement with
the gentile Ivanov. Sore is devastated. Guests are coming to celebrate the "seder"
with the Shapiros. When everyone is seated, the doorbell rings and the
police arrive to arrest Shneyerson. Ivanov insists that he is Shneyerson and
so does the real Shneyerson. The truth comes out as both are led away.
Before he leaves, the real Shneyerson asks Betty to wait for him.
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