The National Yiddish Theatre Presents NEW WORLDS: A CELEBRATION OF I.L. PERETZ

From November 11 to 21, The National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene welcomes noted Israeli actor Rafael Goldwaser, whose France-based Théatre en L'Air has been a beacon of experimentation in the current Yiddish theatre revival taking place in a cities around the world. "New Worlds: A Celebration of I.L. Peretz," an evening of one-acts based on the writing of the great Yiddish writer I.L. Peretz, plays its limited two-week engagement at The Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue (at 25th Street), from Thursday November 11 at 2pm to Sunday November 21 at 6pm, with an opening on Sunday November 14 at 6pm.

One of the most innovative performers on the world stage today, Rafael Goldwaser blends folk traditions with Modern Stagecraft in "The Metamorphosis of a Melody" (A Gigl Fun a Nigun), the evening's centerpiece. A virtuosic solo, multi-media performance conceived and performed by Goldwaser, "A Gigl Fun" was seen this summer in the 2010 New York International Fringe Festival. Directed by Pascal Holtzer, with an original score by Jean-Raymond Gelis, "A Gigl Fun" traces the strange and beautiful evolution and migration of a favorite nigun melody across geographies and generations.

The evening's curtain raiser, "The Two Brothers" (Di Tsvey Brider), which is conceived and directed by Motl Didner, receives its world premiere in this production. With an original score by Dmitri "Zisl" Slepovitch, and choreography by Rebecca Warner, "The Two Brothers" reinvests a classic folk tale about greed and exploitation with a timely energy derived from the mixing of video, audio and performance elements. Both plays are in Yiddish, with English and Russian supertitles.

Born in Argentina, where his father was a busy Yiddish actor, Goldwaser combines the traditions of French mime, Yiddish folk literature, new media, and a refined ear for the music and melodies of Yiddish theatre dating back to Goldfaden. Before moving to France in 1990, Goldwaser lived for 25 years in Israel, where he was, as a member of the Habimah Theatre, one of the country's best-known modernist performers. At his Le Théatre en l'Air in Strasbourg France, where he serves as artistic director, he has been developing a modern Yiddish style of acting that resonates with the past while pointing us to a new epoch.

"New World: A Celebration of I.L. Peretz" runs from November 11 to November 21 (12 performances only!) at The Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue (25th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues). Performances are Wednesday at 2pm & 8pm, Thursdays at 2pm & 8pm, Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm & 6pm. For tickets, which are $55, call The Baruch Performing Arts Center box office at 646/312-5073, or visit www.folksbiene.org

 

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