Andrew Bergman Forum
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| by Prof Asher J Matathias B"H 8 Cheshvan 5766 November 10, 2005 Bayswater Players Triumph In Social Security After months in rehearsals, Andrew Bergman's comedy Social Security, resonating with obvious and subtle contemporary themes, had its premiere tonight at the Bayswater Jewish Center, 2355 Healy Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY. (For those Florida-bound, this Broadway hit can be seen at the Delray Beach Playhouse.) Longevity, it seems, poses a unique "problem:" What is the creative, guilt-proof, satisfactory, long-term existence for an aging parent; who also desires independence, and yes, even affirmation of her sexuality? More, just where lies the balance between parental authority and the legitimate evolving growth of an adolescent, away from the family nest, on or off a college campus, and bent on blurring the difference between acting precocious and promiscuous in her interaction with the opposite sex? The answers come fast and furious through a staccato series of comic sparks: between Barbara (Etty Weiner) and David Kahn (Dr. Stuart Rappaport), successful but childless art dealers; her sister Trudy (Barbara Berg) with her husband Martin Heyman (Peter Kilcommons); the sisters' elderly mother Sophie Greengrass (Leonore Weidenfeld), and the legendary nonagenarian painter --- a planned centenary Museum of Modern Art retrospective honors Koenig: From Yonkel to Masada" --- Maurice Koenig (Prof. Asher J. Matathias). In the pursuit of saving their daughter, Sara, who is attending college, and heard to be experimenting with unusual living arrangements, Trudy and Martin drop off Sophie at the Kahns' Manhattan apartment. Later, at a dinner party Sophie meets Maurice and romance at their age, any time, really, is rekindled! In the process of being discovered as the "perfect Maurice, you are a natural" in director Mario Martone's felicitous phrase, I encountered a dedicated professional, with more than half a century experience in the theater, to whose ministrations I willingly surrendered, witnessing my remarkable transformation into the role of a 98-year-old man, especially convincing after the further application of his additional expertise as make-up wizard. Mario's reputation for meticulous commitment to his craft is so stellar, in a moment of divine inspiration, he issued to the cast the following Ten More Commandments: • Thou shalt have no other study before Social Security • Thou shalt not make any craven mistakes • Thou shalt not take the name of your director in vain • Remember the study days and keeping them whole • Honor thy director and thy fellow actors • Thou shalt not kill the tempo • Thou shalt not commit paraphrasing • Thou shalt not steal the scene • Thou shalt not covet another's role • Thou shalt not bear false cues My brief exposure to live public scenes on stage include the musical production --- via Woodmere Congregation Sons of Israel Couples' Club --- of Forty-Five Seconds From Broadway; reprising Fiddler On The Roof 's Tevye in a faculty talent show 33 years ago, and, as a newly-arrived 12-year-old immigrant in 1956, interpreting the part of Matathias the High Priest, in a Malta Street, Brooklyn, Hanukkah play. Thus Social Security represents my debut in a complete project, ironically, just as I am prepared to receive such checks upon my 62nd birthday next month! The other troupe members have impressive resumes in various featured community offerings, a fact I gladly mined for my own learning's sake. Several words about the venue: the astounding jewel on this corner of Queens, where significant Jewish life blossoms, assuring our people's perpetuity, Bayswater Jewish Center, Congregation Darchay Noam, www.bjcfr.com! Along with daily minyanim and Shabbat worship services, there are a bevy of fascinating programs to appeal to their amazingly-involved membership: adult education lecture series (perhaps I shall be invited to present a program), dinners with entertainment, book review luncheons, nights of games and prizes, fall fashion shows, thrift sales, summer bar-b-cues, baseball and Dow Jones pools, New Year's Eve dinner dances, super bowl Sundays. And, for nearly score years, can one imagine! The Bayswater Players, have been bringing high-caliber off-Broadway shows, at affordable prices, to general acclaim, and in our neighborhood. The manifold details of getting our three-act play on stage, for example, is the loving responsibility of congregants, for several, a joint venture between husband and wife teams: stage manager, Joan Stormwind, has her spouse, Bob, take care of sound and lights; he, in turn, is assisted in his task by Harvey Gluck, whose wife, Marcia, is the producer; set design and publicity were jobs well done by Jerry Miller. Additional creative assistants include Helen Brod (dresser), Judy Diamond, Enid Glabman, Marion Miller, Lory Reselman (tickets), Rhoda Miller (treasurer, Playnotes editor and ad manager), Phyllis Rudnick (mail production); also, Dorothy Potent, Robin Sawransky, Joanne Spitz (refreshments), Joan Duffy, Margaret Joseph (office staff), Luis Canino, Miguel Gonzalez (custodial staff), Joseph Reselman (building administration), and Dorothy Potent (fund raising). Here you have it. A thoroughly enjoyable theatrical experience, to enhance the insights we gain from life, advancing the dictum found in Ecclesiastes to live it up, meaningfully, for even though there is nothing new under the sun, we are admonished to appreciate and enjoy the time, now at hand, to laugh … There are eight more performances in the current run of Social Security, consult the web site, www.bayplays.com, and rush to see it! Sincerely, and with fraternal affection, Asher Prof. Asher J. Matathias, aka Maurice Koenig 312 Longacre Avenue, Woodmere, NY 11598-2530 516-374-2958 Mobile:369-5799 AsherJmat@Aol.com I, along with some of our friends, am planning to attend Thursday evening's performance. Jeff Toback, Nassau County Legislator (7LD), Oceanside, NY Congratulations, on a job well done! You were superb as Maurice Koenig. Esther Gaines, Rockville Centre, NY The show was great!!! Geri Schneider, Lawrence, NY Asher, Old Man. That is an excellent "review." If it's OK with you, I shall couch it as a review and send it to the various media, with photos. Jerry (Miller), Far Rockaway, NY Dear Professor Matathias, Unless the play goes "on the road," I will be unable to enjoy a performance of Social Security. However, you have the opportunity to see a wonderful show entitled Walking in Memphis: The Life of a Southern Jew. I highly recommend it to you, and your friends. You can thank me later. … Harold I. Steinberg, Chair, BBI, Center for Community Action, Memphis, TN Asher, this is an excellent article. Thanks, for all your good work, and great publicity. Good luck on Thursday. Marcia (Gluck), Far Rockaway, NY Comment on this... |
