The God of Isaac...

by James Sherman

Stageworks Theatre

Shimberg Playhouse

Tampa, FL

December 2nd, 2010

What does it mean to be something? Whether it's a religion, race, community or ethnicity, our need for a sense of belonging can help shape who we think we are. And for some, it can derail what you thought you were.

The God of Isaac is a character-driven play within a play about the Jewish heritage of our protagonist Isaac Adams. Set in the late 197o's in, where else, a predominately Jewish suburb of Chicago, the cast of Isaac will take you on a journey of self-discovery and cultural appreciation as this proclaimed comedy dramatically unfolds on stage.

The God of Isaac follows the story of Isaac Adams as he learns more about what it means to Jewish over the course of an impending Neo-nazi march on his hometown. Never truly feeling attached to his Hebrew roots, Isaac consults with countless Jews in his hometown about what being Jewish means to them, hoping to shape his own understanding. Isaac meets with his Rabbi, a extremist protester, an Auschwitz surviving tailor and correspondence with an old lover as he determines his own identity.

The cast of Isaac brought together a wealth of talent to orchestrate this sometimes taboo, but ultimately well developed play. Logan Harrington provides the adhesive holding the story together as the narrator and protagonist of the play. His ability to break the fourth wall seamlessly and return as if he never broke character is proof of his acting prowess. Bravo. Dahlia Legault and Alison Burns provides fantastic portrayals of Isaac's love past and present. Each bring a solid performance as they show us what Isaac could have been, to what what he has. Eileen Koteles provides well timed zingers from the audience as she hysterically provides comic relief during uncomfortable moments. Winning the award of the Anchor of the Play is the self proclaimed "Broadway Veteran" Bill Karnovsky. Karnovsky's ability to tear our heartstrings as the Holocaust surviving tailor one scene and crack jokes as the slightly off balance Rabbi show without a doubt he truly is a master at his craft. Well done.

(Alison Burns, Logan Harrington and Eileen Koteles in The God of Isaac at Stageworks Theatre. c/o stageworkstheatre.org)

I found the production as a whole to very understandable and extremely relatable. I was handed a sheet of Jewish and Yiddish idioms as I entered the playhouse and thought I may be in for a Guy Ritchie stylized production. On the contrary, the audience learned just as the "shiksa" wife did along the way about the ins and outs of Jewish culture. The play offers an interesting mix of traditional play presentation and breaking of the fourth wall. Isaac spends half of his time on stage interacting with other actors and the rest providing direct exposition to the audience, including interaction with a particularly vocal audience member.

The God of Isaac plays through December 19th and will sure to sell out the run. For more information, please click here or contact the Straz Centre. Don't forget to follow us on twitter and/or facebook for the latest on the performing arts community in the Tampa Bay area.

Music of the Post - The Music of Monty Norman & Bernard Hermann