INTERVIEW: ‘Rhinoceros’ set to premiere in Yiddish
New Yiddish Rep has a two-fold mission: modern treatments of the Yiddish classics and Yiddish interpretations of modern and post-modern masterpieces. The company, headed by artistic director David Mandelbaum, has been presenting theatrical offerings off-Broadway and creating quite the buzz.
Their latest project is a Yiddish translation of Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, which is an absurdist drama that finds an individual citizen watching as his friends turn into rhinoceroses. Even though the play was written six decades ago, Mandelbaum promises present-day context.
“Ionesco said that his plays are not absurd; life is absurd,” Mandelbaum stated in an email interview. “Nothing illustrates that better than this president and his administration. Besides that, Yiddish fits this play to a tee. It brings out the comic pathos that most productions don’t seem to capture.”
Mandelbaum believes that New Yiddish Rep is bringing new insights into these older works. As an example, he pointed to the company’s previous production of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. “When we played a Beckett festival in Ireland, folks commented that they had gained new insights into the play,” he states. “Our production of Death of a Salesman was faithful to [Arthur] Miller’s conception of the play as happening in Willy’s head, while at the same time illuminating the obvious Yiddish inflections and rhythms of Miller’s dialogue.”
Rhinoceros, which begins performances Sept. 7 at New York City’s Castillo Theatre, is directed by Moshe Yassur and features a cast comprised of Alec Burko, Amy Coleman, Macha Fogel, Sean Griffin, Malky Goldman, Chezky Israeli, Caraid O’Brien, Eli Rosen, Gera Sandler, Luzer Twersky and Melissa Weisz.
“Moshe Yassur directed both Waiting for Godot and Death of a Salesman, and I don’t think there is a director alive better suited to direct this play,” Mandelbaum stated. “He worked with Ionesco. He is a native Yiddish speaker and a great director, and deserves a great deal of credit for the success of our company.”
Mandelbaum stated that the company will continue to turn to heads, much like they did with a production of God of Vengeance, the controversial play that inspired Broadway’s Indecent by Paula Vogel. Vengeance scored a critic’s pick from The New York Times, and Mandelbaum seems intent on continuing that success.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Rhinoceros, a production of New Yiddish Rep, will begin performances Sept. 7 at the Castillo Theatre in Midtown Manhattan. Click here for more information and tickets.
