[NEohioPAL] Berko review: GOLDA'S BALCONY (Actors' Summit)

[Roy Berko]

Dorothy Silver is mesmerizing on ‘GOLDA’S BALCONY’ at
ACTORS’ SUMMIT

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

COOLCLEVELAND.COM

Dorothy Silver is the first lady of Cleveland theatre.
 Golda Meir was the first lady of Israeli politics. 
The two grand dames are gloriously coming together on
the Actors’ Summit stage in ‘GOLDA’S BALCONY.’  

‘GOLDA'S BALCONY,’ the one-woman show which was
written by William Gibson, ran for  play 493
performances on Broadway. 

It is an album of a seemingly fearless woman who was
Israel’s first female Prime Minister.  She was in
office when Egyptian troops stormed across the Suez
Canal and Syria’s army drove down from the Golan
Heights into Israel on Yom Kipper Day, October 6,
1973.  The action overwhelmed the Israeli army.  Much
of the success of the Israelis during that conflict is
credited to the almost superhuman efforts of Meir. 
Her perseverance saved the Israelis from being “driven
into the sea.”

>From the play’s first line, “I am at the end of my
stories,” until the last line when she actually is at
the end of her stories, we are immersed in Zionist
history and Meir’s personal life and observations.  
We experience a failed marriage because of her need to
be a leader rather than a wife and mother.  We observe
her struggles and frustrations with the Israeli
generals.  We want to get up, grab the phone out of
her hand and plead with Henry Kissinger, the US
Secretary of State, and then-President Richard Nixon,
to send help to Israel.  Send help or be responsible
for the destruction of the country.

Not all is serious.  Meir’s sense of humor and ability
to laugh at herself lighten up the tale.   When
Kissinger tells her that he is “first an American,
second, the Secretary of State, and third, Jewish,”
Meir responds, “That’s fine.  We [the Israelis] read
from right to left.”

Several years ago Valerie Harper came to Cleveland in
a tour production of the play to portray Golda.  I
commented that Ms. Harper lacked the “tam” (the rich
taste, the touch, the soul) of Meir.  She acted the
role, she didn’t experience the person.  This is
absolutely not the case with Dorothy Silver. 


Silver is mesmerizing.  She does not imitate Meir. 
There is no prosthetic nose, no cigarette smoking, no
attempt to recreate Meir’s manly voice.   Silver takes
the words, makes them her own, and gives a clear
picture of the “grandma” of Israel, with all her
foibles.  And, she does it all masterfully.   Her
Golda is always focused and riveting--a
characterization totally complete.  

The use of real pictures of Meir and the people and
places that populate her life have been painstakingly
culled by co-director A. Neil Thackaberry.   The
production was supposed to be directed by Reuben
Silver, Dorothy’s talented husband.  When Reuben
became ill, he and Thackaberry become joint directors.
 Reuben worked with Dorothy at home, Neil with her at
the theatre.  The outcome is totally satisfying.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   ‘GOLDA’S BALCONY’ is an
absolutely must see production.  The show has no
intermission and is 95 minutes.  Plan to stay for the
fascinating talk back with Silver and Thackaberry
following each performance.

Due to well deserved ticket demand, which has resulted
in an almost sold out run, Actors’ Studio has extended
the run for two performances.  Get on the phone right
now (330-342-0800) or go to actorssummit.org and get
tickets for the Friday, April 18 (8 pm) and Sunday,
April 20 (matinee).

Actors’ Summit is located at 86 Owen Brown Street,
Hudson.  


Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2008, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to subscibe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)

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