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The current show at Daydream Theatre Company is
the world premiere of an original show by Leonard Xavier
Roberts Schwartz called "The December Rabbi". The show is about
Benjamin Silverman, a rabbinical student, who finds out what life would be
without him in it. It turns out everyone is better off.( Sounds a bit like
"It's a Wonderful Life" with many comic twists and turns along the
way.) What follows is a comedy about friendship, disco clubs,
circumcisions, coexisting, and love. Lenny not only wrote the show but
directs it beautifully, too. He has a keen eye for comic situations,
having reviewed his ninth show about comic book creators and their
trials and tribulations coming to life in "Kung Fu Babies" back in
2002. He says "There aren't too many holiday shows that celebrate
Hanukkah. The play isn't the same tried and true story. It's a holiday
show from a different perspective than we are used to." Lenny chooses
13 high energy performers who dazzle you with their talent, slapstick and
shtick, producing a laugh riot with their crazy and
outrageous antics.
Lenny is a talented young writer who has been writing and producing
plays for his theatre company for 10 years. He keeps the show in constant
motion without any down time in it at all. The scenes move back and forth
through time so you can see Ben as an adult and at various ages. Stage
manager Jeni Hayden keeps things running smoothly all night
long. It opens with a briss and whether it is successful or
not. Leading this cast of wonderful character actors is
Ian Sauvageau who plays Ben as an adult. He delivers the
goods as this young man in love with a girl of a different faith. Ben
feels unloved by his parents who never bought him Spiderman
underoos. The play explores the ramifications of such a romance since
Cindy is of another faith and that is forbidden by the Jewish religion.
The voiceover compares being a rabbi to a ninja. The show
reveals that sometimes faith comes from places you least expect it
to. His brother Paul plays young Ben marvelously. He
uses different pitches to his voice to portray Ben at his different
ages. He first appears at 5 when he tells the folks he wants to be a
Rabbi when he grows up. Maryssa Ann Morse, a gorgeous
brunette, plays Ben's love interest Cindy as an adult. (She is
originally from Pawtucket,RI and flew in from Los Angeles on
November 28 to be in the show.) She is a strong actress who
has wonderful comic timing and she shines in her
many scenes. Vanessa Blanchette plays young Cindy and in
this segment of the show you learn December Rabbi and Potato Latke girl
are comic book hero names they chose when Ben was beaten up by some
bullies in fourth grade. who will defend them against. This show has
something for everybody this holiday season no matter what religion or
ethnicity. Maryssa's mother, Barbara Morse Silva who is Channel 10
health reporter plays the role of Ben's mother and she and Robert
Reynolds as his father are hilarious with their many funny lines and one
scene where they are making love on the sofa is a hoot. One of her
funniest lines is when she tells Ben that since he is a political science
major, he will soon be a polygamist. The important lesson she gives
to Ben is when she explains the world isn't perfect and that love is what
matters.
The whole cast do topnotch work in their roles. Not wanting to give
away too much, I will give a brief description of them. Another funny
character is the Mohel played by Christopher Ferreira who is
conceited and confident in all he does. He struts about as a superhero
type who is always putting Ben down. One of his funniest
lines is when he says he ate a BLT on an osagio cheese roll and
breaks down in tears. Rabbi Savage played by Ron Golinger in the
scene in his underwear is a laugh out loud moment and he continually
acts cool with funny phrases. He also tells Ben that Cindy will have to
give up Lent and Narnia. Matt D'Oliveira plays Jeff , a mysterious
figure who gets slapped around by Cindy's masochistic friend Wendy
played wonderfully by Tara Gray who pulls a knife on Ben the first time
she meets him. Matt wears platform shoes that light up on his date
with Wendy and he spins a magic dreidel in the second act that helps
decide Ben's fate. Sexy Tai Bacani plays Helen, Cindy's
mother who likes to grab men's asses. She has a comic dancing
scene with Rabbi Savage, Pretty blond Danielle Bouchard plays a
guidance counselor who continually steals money from young Ben until Cindy
makes her realize she is unworthy of her position. Danielle also plays
Tovah who hooks up with Wendy in a briss scene. The unique
angel is played by Jill Belanger. Make sure you catch Lenny's
show at Bell Street Chapel where I attended Nursery School many years ago
when I was 4 and 5 years old. You will laugh yourself silly all night
long with the world premiere of a unique show by a very talented
writer. (Congrats to Lenny and his wife on the birth of their
beautiful daughter, Callie.)The audience is treated to free coffee and
pastries with all proceeds going to Bell Street to help them out this
holiday season.
THE DECEMBER RABBI ( 3 to 5
December)
Daydream Theatre Company, Bell Street
Chapel, 5 Bell Street, Providence, RI
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