[NEohioPAL]Critic's Praise for TO KNOW HIM Now - May 22 at the Halle Theatre

Fri May 13 09:09:31 PDT 2005

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The Sun Press, Thursday, May 12, 2005

=20

LAUGHTER, TEARS FILL HALLE THEATRE'S FINAL PRODUCTION, "TO KNOW HIM"

=20

By Marjorie Preston

Correspondent

=20

The Halle Theatre's intelligent and funny production of Albi Gorn's "To =
Know
Him" deserves to see many full houses.  That made it sad to see a
half-filled theater Saturday for opening night, the last opening night =
the
historic Jewish theater will see. The Jewish Community Center that =
houses it
will be torn down this summer, but JCC's theater program will continue =
to
produce plays at other venues.

=20

The theater's winning world-premier production stars Brian Zoldessy as =
Rick,
a hospital patient and former film teacher, and Alicia Kahn as Penny, a
young rabbinical student who turns up to cheer him.  Reuben Silver makes =
a
brief visit as Rick's father, Harry, estranged from Rick for 40 years.  =
The
play's title refers to a '50s song by the Teddy Bears, but it comes to =
refer
to relationships with fathers, including spiritual ones.=20

=20

Rick, in his early 50s and dying of AIDS, identifies himself as an =
atheist
and immediately distances himself from Penny. Penny's job is Rick's =
favorite
target for criticism, but he agrees to her visits if she will not =
discuss
prayer. Raised Jewish but in a none-too-observant household, he tries to
"control the flow of information" from Penny, like editing a movie. =
Little
does the film teacher know that Penny's father will not speak to her =
without
posing a challenging film trivia question. While her own father =
threatens
estrangement, Penny's desire to help Rick's lost soul strengthens.  =
Penny
realizes their mutual love of film could be the key.

They continue to meet twice a week and talk about some of their favorite
movies, titles like "Beau Geste," "Carrie," "Becket" and "The Thief of
Baghdad," while underneath the surface they seek redemption from broken
paternal bonds.

=20

As Penny, Alicia Kahn showed range, talent and a command of the stage. =
Early
in the play, her sometimes uneven energy kept the audience unsure of her
next move. But able direction from Dorothy Silver had the audience =
watching
for Kahn's transformation. And her transformation was sweeping, from
idealist rabbinical student who has little contact with the world, to a
swearing, unruly girl who finally emerges as a woman with a deeper
understanding of the world.

=20

Brian Zoldessy, no stranger to hospitals himself and on a waiting list =
for a
kidney, brought gravity and New York color to the piece, especially as =
he
reminisced about the Dodgers. His humanness and wisdom about facing =
death
showed through.

Gorn must be pleased with Zoldessy's comic timing, too, during bits of
gallows humor like, "When I'm dying, I always stay at St. Luke's =
hospital!"

=20

Tony Kovacic's set evoked the clinical spartan feel of a downtown =
hospital
room. Hopefully, more people will get to know Gorn's "To Know Him" and =
use
the chance to visit the Halle one more time, absorbing this play's funny =
and
engaging message about common ground.

To Know Him=20
By Albi Gorn=20
Directed by Dorothy Silver=20
Featuring Brian Zoldessy, Alicia Kahn & Reuben Silver=20
Halle Theatre, Mayfield JCC, 3505 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Hts., OH 44118 =

World Premiere & Winner of the 2002 Dorothy Silver Playwriting =
Competition=20

Tickets _______

$24 General public

$20 JCC members

$22 Seniors

$16 Groups of 10+

=20

Call the JCC Box Office at 216-382-4000, ext 274=20
JCC Box Office Hours are Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and=20

Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  On performance days the box office is =
open
one hour before curtain.

=20

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dmaroon face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:maroon'>The Sun Press, =
</span></font><font color=3Dmaroon><span =
style=3D'color:maroon'>Thursday, May 12, 2005</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 color=3D"#333399" face=3D"Times =
New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:#333399;font-weight:bold'>LAUGHTER, =
TEARS FILL
HALLE THEATRE’S FINAL PRODUCTION, “TO KNOW =
HIM”</span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'> </span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>By Marjorie Preston</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Correspondent</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>

The Halle Theatre’s intelligent and funny production of =
Albi Gorn’s
“To Know Him” deserves to see many full houses.  That =
made it
sad to see a half-filled theater Saturday for opening night, the last =
opening
night the historic Jewish theater will see. The Jewish Community Center =
that
houses it will be torn down this summer, but JCC’s theater program =
will
continue to produce plays at other venues.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>

The theater’s winning world-premier production stars =
Brian
 Zoldessy as Rick, a hospital patient and former film teacher, and =
Alicia Kahn
as Penny, a young rabbinical student who turns up to cheer him.  =
Reuben
Silver makes a brief visit as Rick’s father, Harry, estranged from =
Rick
for 40 years.  The play’s title refers to a ‘50s song =
by the
Teddy Bears, but it comes to refer to relationships with fathers, =
including
spiritual ones.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>

Rick, in his early 50s and dying of AIDS, identifies himself as =
an
atheist and immediately distances himself from Penny. Penny’s job =
is
Rick’s favorite target for criticism, but he agrees to her visits =
if she
will not discuss prayer. Raised Jewish but in a none-too-observant =
household,
he tries to “control the flow of information” from Penny, =
like
editing a movie. Little does the film teacher know that Penny’s =
father
will not speak to her without posing a challenging film trivia question. =
While
her own father threatens estrangement, Penny’s desire to help
Rick’s lost soul strengthens.  Penny realizes their mutual =
love of
film could be the key.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>They continue to meet twice a week and talk about some of their
favorite movies, titles like “Beau Geste,” =
“Carrie,”
“Becket” and “The Thief of Baghdad,” while =
underneath
the surface they seek redemption from broken paternal =
bonds.</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>

As Penny, Alicia Kahn showed range, talent and a =
command
of the stage. Early in the play, her sometimes uneven energy kept the =
audience
unsure of her next move. But able direction from Dorothy Silver had the
audience watching for Kahn’s transformation. And her =
transformation was
sweeping, from idealist rabbinical student who has little contact with =
the
world, to a swearing, unruly girl who finally emerges as a woman with a =
deeper
understanding of the world.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>

Brian Zoldessy, no stranger to hospitals himself =
and on
a waiting list for a kidney, brought gravity and New York color to the =
piece,
especially as he reminisced about the Dodgers. His humanness and wisdom =
about
facing death showed through.

Gorn must be pleased with Zoldessy’s comic timing, too, =
during
bits of gallows humor like, “When I’m dying, I always stay =
at St.
Luke’s hospital!”

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>

Tony Kovacic’s set evoked the clinical spartan feel of a =
downtown
hospital room. Hopefully, more people will get to know Gorn’s =
“To
Know Him” and use the chance to visit the Halle one =
more
time, absorbing this play’s funny and engaging message about =
common
ground.

<p><b><i><font size=3D5 color=3Dmaroon face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:maroon;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>To =
Know Him</span></font></i></b>
<br>
<i><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-style:italic'>By</span></font></i><b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold'> </span></b><b><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
bold'>Albi Gorn</span></font></b> <br>
<i><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-style:italic'>Directed by</span></font></i><b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:
bold'> </span></b><b><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Dorothy Silver</span></font></b> =
<br>
<i><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-style:italic'>Featuring</span></font></i><b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>
</span></b><b><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
 Arial;font-weight:bold'>Brian Zoldessy</span></font></b><b><font =
size=3D2
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>, =
</span></font></b><b><font
 size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
 bold'>Alicia Kahn</span></font></b><b><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'> & =
Reuben
Silver</span></font></b> <br>
<b><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>Halle Theatre, Mayfield JCC, =
</span></font></b><b><font
  size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
  bold'>3505 Mayfield Rd.</span></font></b><b><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
 style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>, =
</span></font></b><b><font
  size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
  bold'>Cleveland</span></font></b><b><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'> =
</span></font></b><b><font
 size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
 bold'>Hts.</span></font></b><b><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>, OH 44118</span></font></b> =
<br>
<b><font size=3D2 color=3Dmaroon face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'>World Premiere & =
Winner of
the 2002 Dorothy Silver Playwriting Competition</span></font></b> </p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><u><font size=3D3 color=3Dmaroon face=3D"Times =
New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'>Tickets =
_______</span></font></u></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>$24</span></font><=
/b><font
color=3Dnavy><span style=3D'color:navy'> </span></font><font =
color=3Dmaroon><span
style=3D'color:maroon'>General public</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>$20</span></font><=
/b><font
color=3Dnavy><span style=3D'color:navy'> </span></font><font =
color=3Dmaroon><span
style=3D'color:maroon'>JCC members</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>$22</span></font><=
/b><font
color=3Dnavy><span style=3D'color:navy'> </span></font><font =
color=3Dmaroon><span
style=3D'color:maroon'>Seniors</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>$16</span></font><=
/b><font
color=3Dnavy><span style=3D'color:navy'> </span></font><font =
color=3Dmaroon><span
style=3D'color:maroon'>Groups of 10+</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:13.5pt;color:navy'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 color=3Dmaroon face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:13.5pt;color:maroon'>Call the JCC Box Office at =
216-382-4000,
ext 274</span></font><font color=3Dmaroon><span style=3D'color:maroon'> =
<br>
</span></font>JCC Box Office Hours are Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. =
to 5:00 p.m. and </p>

Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  On performance =
days
the box office is open one hour before curtain.

<p><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><br>
 </span></font></p>

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