A Review of the Play, Indecent, at the Baltimore Center Stage

I truly love the theater. I enjoy seeing plays that constantly surprise me. I’m always impressed by the quality and uniqueness of each production and Indecent by Paula Vogel and directed by Eric Rosen was no different.

Indecent was inspired by Sholem Asch’s The God of Vengeance which was a Yiddish drama that was quite controversial and provocative in the 1900s. The Jewish community was concerned about what Christians would think about two women lovers. Of note, this play was credited for presenting the first lesbian kiss on Broadway in 1923.

Paula Vogel’s play follows the inception of Sholem Asch’s first reading of The God of Vengeance through its world tour from Warsaw, Poland, 1906 to Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1950 and many places in between. Notably too, were the various audience’s reaction to the play and how the actors were treated when playing their various roles.

Overall, great performances by all the actors, my favorite being Lemml played by Ben Cherry. Lemml first met Sholem Asch in the Warsaw literary salon of I.L. Peretz and championed the cause of the play when Sholem himself lost his zest for it. Lemml’s passion for the play was summed up when he said the play “belongs to the people who labor in it and the audience who put aside the time to be there.”

Some of the lines and songs were in Yiddish but the translation was presented above on a screen in English. This kept the authenticity of the play and our attention in taking it all in. So if you get a chance, you should check it out. It runs from February 28 - March 31, 2019.

Here’s the synopsis from www.centerstatge.org

HOW FAR WOULD YOU FOLLOW YOUR PASSION?

What is the cost when we sacrifice truth for success? Can radical love be pious, or merely provocative? Does every religion sell God for a price? Follow the true story of a play, a playwright, and a plucky troupe of Yiddish theater artists from 1906 Warsaw to 1923 Broadway, from risky experiment to global sensation—and ultimately shattering scandal. The latest hit from the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of A Civil War Christmas, The Baltimore Waltz, and How I Learned to Drive, this highly acclaimed and award-winning drama pays homage to artists ahead of their time and doomed to pay the price.

Check out the trailer:

Comments

Interview with Jacqueline Seewald, Author of THE INHERITANCE

Author’s Bio: Multiple award-winning author, Jacqueline Seewald, has taught creative, expository and technical writing at Rutgers University as well as high school English. She also worked as both an academic librarian and an educational media specialist. Sixteen of her books of fiction have previously been published to critical praise including books for adults, teens and children. Her short stories, poems, essays, reviews and articles have appeared in hundreds of diverse publications and numerous anthologies. What inspired you to write your book? I enjoy writing romantic mystery fiction. The idea for this particular novel just seemed to evolve organically from my imagination. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult? I would have to say reading the Bible was influential. As far as regular books go, I’m a big fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Is this your first book? How long did it take to start and

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Debbie Stokes, author of The Stranger He Knew

Author’s Bio: Debbie Stokes was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She has always had a desire to be a published author of a fiction novel, but fear stopped her. She often shares how her story ideas come to her in her dreams, and how she jumps up to write them down. Finally, one day, she pushed past her fear and allowed her vision to come to past. She is now a published author, and The Stranger He Knew is her first book. Debbie is a former CEO, blogger, and interviewer for her previous women's empowerment blog called, 3 Women Voices, where she shared empowering stories of how people overcame odds to live their best lives. She is also a former contributing writer for FEMI Magazine, a cultural lifestyle magazine, where she interviewed and shared people’s stories. When not writing, she enjoys singing, dancing, inspiring others, and spending time with family. Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book? Debbie Stokes: That is a funny story. One day, I went

National Poetry Month’s Feature: Poet Jahi Trotter

Poet’s Bio: Jahi Minkah Trotter was born in Atlanta, GA, and moved to Alabama when he was six years old. He has been writing poetry since he was 11 years old. He has written two poetry books: It Was Already Written (2016) and Adapting To Life: Poems and Quotes by Jahi Minkah Trotter (2020). He developed a love for filmmaking while receiving his bachelor's degree in social science. Jahi decided to continue his quest for filmmaking at Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, GA. During his final two years at SCAD, Jahi was encouraged by his professors to go into acting while continuing to work behind the camera as well. This was a crucial time for Jahi. He lost his father in 2019 a month before taking an elective acting class that lead him into acting. He lost his mother in 2021 and continues to act and create films, including his thesis film "The Last Job," in which he acted and starred in. Jahi graduated with a master's degree in film and television from S

Vocal Expressions

Search This Blog