NEW YORK—It takes about 10 minutes for the dust to be blown off this 66-year-old work, but once it lifts, Sylvia Regan's Morning Star, presented by the Peccadillo Theater Company, offers a fascinating yet frustrating glimpse into the life of a Jewish family in New York's Lower East Side from the years 1910-1931.
Becky (Susan Greenhill) is matriarch of the Felderman clan, raising her three daughters and young son. They also have a border in Aaron Greenspan (Steve Sterner), who would love to marry Becky if she would only consent. The play can probably best be described as a melodrama, with various soap opera situations involving each of the sisters, and subsequent decisions that lead to heartbreak and tragedy. These instances are intertwined with real-life events, such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, World War I and the Great Depression.
Some sections are a bit dated (especially when it comes to conversations about politics), but for the most part the play works well, thanks to a strong central lead in Greenhill, a realistic and intimate set by Joseph Spirito, and good costumes by Gail Cooper-Hecht. There's one tragedy in the play telegraphed pretty far in advance, but even though one has a good idea of what's coming, because of the realism of the scene, one is still affected.
Although the strength of the production comes from the script, too often the performers are not up to the task of bringing the characters fully to life. Many of the actors come off as rather wooden. Thus, while we feel for the situations (many of which are universal), we don't feel as much for the people onstage.
At the heart of the play is the lesson that life goes on and love is the most important thing of all. At the same time, Regan points out that wanting to love someone is different than actually being in love. "Morning Star" is poignant and touching, but a stronger cast would have made this production so much more.
Also in the cast are Darcy Yellin, Caroline Tamas, Steve Sterner, Michael Tommer, Matthew DeCapua, Lena Kaminsky, Josh Phillip Weinstein, Peter J. Coriaty, Allan Mirchin, David Lavine and Geany Masai. Direction is by Dan Wackerman.
Morning Star
Presented by the Peccadillo Theater Company
Bank Street Theatre
155 Bank Street
Tickets: 212-868-4444 or www.smarttix.com
Closes: July 28, 2007
Judd Hollander is the New York correspondent for the London publication The Stage.
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