Arsenic for the budding actor

June 15, 2010 - 3:51 AM by

Went to see a clever local production of an old film favorite, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” now turned into a musical — “Arsenic The Musical” with lyrics written by local Modi’in resident, Elli Sacks.

Staged in Talpiot, at the simple stage of El Halev, Arsenic is produced by Way Off Productions, a theater group that is aiming to be more theater workshop than local Jerusalem English language theater. And that’s what it felt like during the course of the well-rehearsed two-hour production, and I’m offering that as a compliment. The actors, both amateur and professional, knew what they were doing and did it well, including Teddy Brewster (the nephew who is mad and thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt.) Full disclosure: Teddy is played by my brother-in-law and the play’s assistant director is my sister and Ira’s wife, Beth Steinberg.

Despite the family connections, I was charmed by the production, and by the fact that these actors took their own leisure time to rehearse and perform the play over the course of many months. But perhaps even more striking was the fact that so many of them have actually acted professionally and then moved to Israel, where they’re hoping — according to the Playbill bios — to continue acting, for money. Actor David Hilfstein worked Off-Broadway in NYC before making aliyah and has appeared in Srugim; Alona Cole is a professional singer and Chanan Elias plays professionally with various local bands.

I’m pretty sure that my sister and brother-in-law aren’t planning on going pro in the acting field. But it’s gotta feel good to have your acting work noticed. Even when it’s tied to the flotilla disaster.

Tags: , , • Category: Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Life, Movies, Music 

Comments

3 Comments on Arsenic for the budding actor

  1. HH #272 — Tammuz Tidings « Frume Sarah's World on Sun, Jun 20th 2010 5:03 PM

    2. [...] for something off the beaten path? Check out a new musical production of “Arsenic and Old Lace,” being staged in Talpiot. Or a tiyul in [...]

  2. A fat pig in Jerusalem | ISRAELITY on Wed, Nov 17th 2010 9:06 PM

    3. [...] Her company most recently performed a musical version of Arsenic and Old Lace (we wrote about it here). Their stage is in the El Halev studio space in the Talpiot Industrial [...]

  3. A Fat Pig Comes to Jerusalem on Thu, Nov 18th 2010 12:30 PM

    4. [...] of “Rent,” to form Way Off in 2009. Her company most recently performed a musical version of Arsenic and Old Lace. Their stage is in the El Halev studio space in the Talpiot Industrial [...]

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