[NEohioPAL] Final 4 Performances of "MUST SEE" My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding at Actors' Summit

[Neil Thackaberry]

*RAVE REVIEWS!*


Delightful, thought provoking MY MOTHER’S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING at
Actors’ Summit



Roy Berko

*(Member, American Theatre Critics Association & Cleveland Critics Circle)*



Where do you get information and inspiration to write a musical about a
Jewish lesbian who gets married to a Wiccan?  If you are David Hein, you
turn inward and write about you, your mother, your other mother, your
father, and your grandmother.  Sound like a mindless piece or escapist
theatre?  Well, it’s not!



MY MOTHER’S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING is a unique, delightful, tune
filled, charming, heartfelt exploration that takes a number of twists and
turns as it explores self revelation, relationships, and the politics of
marriage.  It’s been called “The most tuneful weapon you’ll ever find for
advancing marriage equality.”



MY MOTHER’S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING should be required viewing for
all the members of the U.S. Supreme Court before they act on the marriage
case before them this term.



The musical review play, written by David Hein and his wife, Irene Carl
Sankoff, centers on Hein’s real life memories of spending his teen years
with his biological mother, Claire, and his other mother, Jane.



The story starts as Claire divorces young David’s father and moves to
Canada to accept a job as a university professor of psychology.  The moves
is eased by Clarie’s finding an apartment in Michelle’s home.  Michelle, an
outgoing lesbian, is part of a musical group.  Claire starts singing with
the troupe, meets Dawn, a Wiccan therapist, they fall in love, and marry in
2005 after Canada becomes the fourth nation to legalize same sex unions.



The score, while not memorable, is filled with meaningful tunes which move
the plot along.  Foremost of these is *A Short History of Gay Marriage*,
which traces the frustration of gays in trying to get equal rights and
allows members of the audience to literally participate in a protest
march.  The song has been updated to include the recent election in which
several more of the U.S. states approved gay marriage.  Some of the other
vocal highlights are:  *Feelings Are Important*, *Jew-ish*, *Five Mothers*,
and *You and Me*.  Quite funny is *Hot Lesbian Action,* *Double Date*
and *Romance
101.*



Under Neil Thackaberry’s wise directing, the show moves along at a pleasant
pace.  The music, under the direction of J. T. Buck, wisely supports and
underscores rather than drowning out the singers.



The performers are all excellent.  They sing well and they are natural in
their characterizations.  Kevin Kern has a nice twangy voice, plays the
guitar with gusto, and creates a real person as the older David.  Daniel
Sovich is charming and shows a nice teenage sensibility as the younger
David.  His side role as a cross dressing Hooter girl is fun and funny.
Lindsey Mitchell (Claire) makes for a charming mother, who grows and
changes before our eyes.  She has a fine singing voice and a nice grasp of
her character.  Keith Stevens creates in Garth, Claire’s former husband, a
supportive father and real person.  Elizabeth Lawson Homes, (Michelle), is
a hoot as Claire’s landlady and friend.  The Dawn Sniadak-Yamokoski (Jane)
has a wonderful singing voice and is totally believable as Claire’s Wiccan
girl-friend and then wife.  Megan Brautigam, Zach Griffin and Hope Caldwell
are excellent in multiple supporting roles.



The multi-level set is cleverly festooned with the Human Right’s Campaign’s
blue and gold striped pride insignia.



*CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  MY MOTHER’S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING is a
meaningful musical production which has a solid message enforcing the need
for equal rights for all, while also being totally delightful.  This is a
must see show!*



For tickets to MY MOTHER’S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING, which runs
through December 23, call 330-342-0800 or go to actorssummit.org.


*Timely musical about same sex marriage at Actors’ Summit*

<http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/content/tncms/live/>

<http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/content/tncms/live/>



*My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wedding*



Posted: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 3:57 pm | *Updated: 5:33 pm, Wed Dec
12, 2012.*

* *

*Fran Heller  *



I didn’t know what to expect with a title like “My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish
Wiccan Wedding.”



What I discovered was a warm and wonderful true story based on the
experiences of David Hein, who co-authored the play with his wife, Irene
Carl Sankoff.



With the Supreme Court poised to rule on same-sex marriage, this tale of
how Hein’s Jewish mother found true love with another female couldn’t be
more timely.



Expertly directed by Neil Thackaberry, “Wedding” is a sweet, funny and
moving gender-bending musical about sexual and religious identity,
tolerance and a celebration of love. There’s not a weak link in the cast.



After a messy divorce, Claire, David’s mother, takes a teaching position at
the University of Ottawa, where her son joins her to attend high school.
David discovers that his mother, a psychology professor, has fallen in love
with a therapist named Jane. Claire, a lapsed Jew, returns to her Jewish
faith, while Jane continues her practice of Wicca.



The two-hour show, plus intermission, includes numerous musical numbers and
is narrated by the adult David (the excellent Kevin P. Kern) who strums a
mean guitar and has strong vocal chops.



The music, mostly soft rock and pop, is matched by lyrics that are by turns
witty and poignant. Keyboardist J.T. Buck and percussionist Mark Bussinger
provide backdrop for many songs.



The action shuttles between Lincoln, Neb. and Ottawa, Canada. Props are
minimal, the sense of place enhanced by vivid character portrayals and
MaryJo Alexander’s amazing costumes. Kevin Lutan’s dramatic lighting
greatly affects each scene, almost as if it’s another character.

“Wedding” is a psychologically oriented, introspective musical that richly
mines the emotions and conflicts of human behavior with a strong dose of
gentle humor. The play on the word “baggage” is one of many instances in
which psychology becomes the butt of jokes.



Claire (the lovely Lindsey Mitchell) meets Jane (the outstanding Dawn
Sniadak-Yomokoski) in an all-female chorus. Claire is instantly attracted
to Jane, and before long, the two fall in love.



Mitchell and Sniadak-Yomokoski make their relationship completely touching
and real; it’s a joy to watch these two interact.



Claire ran away from her faith as a young girl when told she could not read
from the Torah at her Orthodox synagogue. Jane describes Wicca as good
witchcraft in which the rituals follow seasonal changes.



Pointed insights leaven the comedic stretches.



Young David’s parents fight over their son constantly. Sometimes people
fight for so long they don’t know how to stop, notes the adult David as
narrator.



Claire is afraid to tell young David she is a lesbian. David’s reaction is
utterly sweet and natural. No big deal, he says. Dad has a girlfriend, why
can’t you?



Watch how Claire’s face changes upon discovering it’s her mother calling
and not her lover. The unseen mother chides Claire for not going to
synagogue. The tragedy of the play is the death of Claire’s mom, who never
accepted Claire as gay.



The funeral scene, followed by an angry Claire describing the anti-Semitic
assaults of her early years in Nebraska and her mom’s refusal to attend her
wedding in Canada, brought tears to my eyes.



In the more political second act, David traces a short history of gay
marriage followed by a protest rally for and against legalizing gay
marriage at the Canadian Parliament. Canada was the fourth nation to ratify
same-sex marriage.

David and Irene’s marriage as a straight couple beautifully contrasts with
the marriage of Claire and Jane. Claire decides to return to her Jewish
faith and learn Hebrew. A brief vignette draws a page out of “Fiddler” and
a few chuckles. The two women are married under a chuppah with both Jewish
and Wicca traditions as part of the ceremony.



Prolonged conversations about birth control, simulated hot lesbian sex and
several lyrics bordering on crude were the few low points.



The 200-seat theater was packed at the matinee I attended – for good
reason. It’s a terrific show.



WHAT: “My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding”

WHERE: Actors’ Summit, 6th Floor, Greystone Hall, 103 High St., Akron

WHEN: Through Sunday, Dec. 23

TICKETS & INFO: 330-374-7568 or www.actorssummit.org
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