BWW Reviews: THE IMMIGRANT at Penguin Repertory Theatre

THE IMMIGRANT

by Mark Harelik

Penguin Repertory Theater, Stony Point, NY

"The Immigrant" by Mark Harelik is the playwright`s nostalgically affectionate tribute to his grandfather, Haskell, a Russian Jew who came to the United States in the early 1900s. He did not come through Ellis Island like so many others, but rather he came through that most unlikely port of call, Galveston, Texas. He eventually settled in the whiter than white town of Hamilton, Tex. (pop., 1,200).

In this time of "wall-building" rhetoric and talk of fascist-like isolationism, Penguin has found a timely, small gem about the value of tolerance and understanding that we were and still are a nation of immigrants.

It's clear from the very start that Harelik's play comes straight from the heart and that is its strength. We learn immediately that Haskell has fled from the pogroms in Russia, leaving behind his young wife, to search for a better life in America. Haskell makes another unlikely choice, to remain in Hamilton, where he sticks out like a sore thumb, rather than migrate to the larger Jewish enclaves in the big cities.

Haskell has a long and twisting journey before him and Jason Liebman delivers the goods in convincing fashion, aging before our eyes from youth to old age, with abundant charm and clever comic timing. He imbues Haskell with profound humanity and sincerity, making him a character you can help but root for.

A Jewish man, clad in black from head to toe, pushing a wheelbarrow, selling of all things, bananas, must have been a truly bizarre sight in early 20th century Texas. Yet, the indigenous southern hospitality of a local banker and his wife allow Haskell a place to stay as he begins his new life. The blossoming of their relationship unfolds beautifully and Bill Phillips and Tina Johnson as crusty but fair Banker Milton Perry and his loveable wife Ima are charming, if somewhat stereotypical southern folk. However, there is nothing stereotypical about their performances as both take their respective characters on a moral journey of self-discovery when faced with a situation neither probably ever imagined.

While the play covers a number of topics, the relationship between the two families remains at its core. Ima provides the moral center of the story, delivering simple home-spun wisdom that time and time again diffuses difficult situations. Ms. Johnson is absolutely pitch perfect, delivering a delightful blend of alternately witty and witless southern philosophy.

The play is simple, sweet and uncluttered, but it is also lacks a bit of inertia. The playwright spends a great deal of time stuck in the sentimentality of the immigrant experience rather than probing its depths. There are too many domestic drama clichés: the obvious stranger in a strange land, Jewish boy and country folk juxapositioning, the painfully shy bride arriving from the old country, the petrified new father awaiting the birth of his first child, the old world vs. the new world. There are also several red-herring references to Haskell's wagon being shot at, and the town being plagued by the apparently red-necked racist "Peterson boys," but we never hear anything further about them.

Melissa Miller manages to come across appealing in her unenviable task of breathing life into the character of Leah, Haskell's wife. The character suffers from all the immigrant clichés: she's lonely, she misses home, and she's worried that Haskell has abandoned his religion in order to fit in to the new world. However, the growth of her relationship with Ima provides a welcome and pleasant balance to the increasingly complicated relationship of their husbands.

The dramatic zenith of the evening comes during Seder dinner when Haskell and Milton begin to discuss politics. The heated conversation regarding WWII's spread in Europe reveals completely contrasting political points of view - and by extension, philosophies on life in general. Milton, the life-long Texan is understandably an isolationist, and Haskell, a more worldly soul, an interventionist who favors U.S. involvement in the war. The moment is devastating to the relationship between the two men and brings up decades of other issues, buried or unsaid. The tolerance and understanding that Milton showed Haskell when he first arrived on the scene does not extend to the more abstract notion of the suffering people of Europe. The argument ultimately destroys decades of friendship.

The Immigrant is at its best when the characters are undergoing discovery, discovery of each other, and of themselves. Those moments are the most honest, the most endearing and ultimately the most entertaining - and they are very very entertaining.

Director Joe Brancato has crafted a very moving piece by making the wise choice of highlighting the humor and the tenderness at the core of the story and there is a lot of it! The play is ultimately a grand success because of Brancato's light-handed direction and the outstanding performances of a superb cast.

Penguin Rep's production of "The Immigrant" runs through June 12, 2016 at 7 Crickettown Road, Stony Point, NY.

For tickets or more information visit: http://www.penguinrep.org/

- Peter Danish

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