Classic Yentl story with added spice
The AJN reviews the latest production of Yentl, by Kadimah Yiddish Theatre.
Theatre: Yentl
Reviewer: Danny Gocs
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
JEWISH mysticism and spirituality come to the fore in Kadimah Yiddish Theatre’s Yentl, a new play based on the original Yiddish short story by Nobel Prize-winning author Isaac Bashevis Singer titled Yentl the Yeshiva Boy.
It is directed by Gary Abrahams – who directed Bad Jews and the MTC’s current production, Admissions – who teamed up with Elise Hearst and Galit Klas to write the script.
The result is a dramatic, powerful production at the Arts Centre’s Fairfax Studio, presented in Yiddish and English with wonderful staging effects that take the audience back to a Polish shtetl of 1870.
The small cast of four give stirring performances, led by veteran actress Evelyn Krape as Yeytser Ho’re/The Evil Inclination who narrates the action and counsels Yentl to defy Orthodox tradition by secretly studying the Torah with the help of her father.
With raised eyebrows, mischievous grins and cackles, Krape zips around the stage masterfully playing a variety of characters.
Jana Zvedeniuk, who speaks Hebrew, French and Russian and graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2020, has the demanding roles of Yentl and Anshl (the Yeshiva student) which she delivers with class.
When her father dies, Yentl puts on his clothes, cuts her hair and runs away to another village in order to keep studying. She takes on the persona of Anshl and impresses the other students at the yeshiva including Avigdor (Nicholas Jaquinot) who becomes a study partner.
Urged on by The Evil Inclination, Anshl’s life becomes more complex as her affection towards Avigdor grows. To complicate matters, she becomes involved with Avigdor’s former fiancée, Hodes (Genevieve Kingsford) while Avigdor is also attracted to Anshl.
While the story of Yentl is dark, it tackles a variety of contemporary issues including religious observance, gender identity, sexual attraction and traditional culture.
The play, which has English subtitles projected onto the set when Yiddish is spoken, is part of the Kadimah’s 110th anniversary celebrations.
Kadimah Yiddish Theatre’s Yentl is at the Arts Centre’s Fairfax Studio until March 26. Bookings: artscentremelbourne.com.au
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