Reviewer - Janet Dirks
 

Macleod

            A new play is debuting this week. "The Always Prayer Shawl" at the Warehouse Theatre. The play is based on the award winning children's book   by        Sheldon Oberman. CBC Arts reporter Janet Dirks got an early look at the show and she's in the studio. Hi there.

Dirks

Good morning.

Now, the play opens tonight but you saw a preview

Well, actually I caught a dress rehearsal which is important to keep in mind, so lets consider this an informal review - but from what I saw of the dress rehearsal it's a terrific production.

What did you like about it?

Well, I loved many things about it. I loved, of course the story by Sheldon Oberman. It's a wonderful story about a man looking over his life from when he was a small boy in Russia and his own grandfather gave him a prayer shawl until when he immigrates to Canada, goes to school at Aberdeen School in the North End, serves in World War II, works in Oscars Delicatessen, gets married, has his own children and a grandson and the shawl is passed on. And I guess the shawl represents faith and tradition and a sense of identity. It's a moving story. It's so well adapted to the stage. It's funny and touching at the same time. I loved it and laughed and at the end there were little mists which is embarrassing at a dress rehearsal but I was very moved.

And how were the performances?

They were terrific. It's a five member cast. Wonderful Winnipeg actors; Darryl Baron, Monique Marker, Chris Sigurdson, Harry Nelken, and Daniel Ciplinsky. They were all very good. They were all believable and even though the staging of the show is very simple, these five people captivate you, they tell you this story. They do the scene of the pogrom when the Cossacks attack the village and even though you don't see Cossacks you just hear noise and there's some lights and there's the little boy and the grandfather on crates representing a carriage, it's scary, I was scared. It's very engaging. I also love it as a family show. It's so rare that you can go to a piece of theatre where you can take your parents, your grandparents and your children and you will not be embarrassed. It's not segregated theatre. There's something for everyone although 1 would caution don't take little tots because it's not a kiddie show. It's for perhaps grade one and up. I also love that it is only an hour long.

How does it differ from the book? The book is so very beautiful. Wonderful illustrations. Wonderful storyline. What do they take from the book?

Well, they take the beautiful storyline and it's a very lovely looking production. Even though it's a very simple production it's very beautiful. Lovely colours. A lovely simple set. They give you that sense of Winnipeg. I highly recommend it. And I must say you don't have to be Jewish to enjoy this play because it's about family and tradition and growing up. Anyone will enjoy it. I would take my parents to see it. I think director Mariam Bernstein has a real jewel in this production. And it's worthy of the award winning book.

Did the writer, Sheldon Oberman. play a part in the adaptation of it?

Yes, he did.

Well thanks Jan.

You're welcome

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