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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ensemble initiates its new home with classic WAITING FOR
LEFTY</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roy Berko</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Lorain County
Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times</i><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">--<a href="http://COOLCLEVELAND.COM">COOLCLEVELAND.COM</a>—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this era of Wall Street sit-ins and the politicizing of
unions, as represented by Kasich’s administration’s passing of a
non-negotiation bill,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a return to
examining the reason for, and the rise of unionism, is appropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Probably no play better looks at the
subject of U. S. union confrontation then Clifford Odets’ WAITING FOR LEFTY.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Based on the true story of the 1934 unionization of New York
City cab drivers, the organizing efforts, dubbed by opponents as “the promotion
of the communist revolution in America,” is a vivid example of “agit-prop”
theatre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Agit-Prop was a form of
writing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>with the intent of
agitating, propagandizing and spreading ideas, which was popularized by Bertolt
Brecht and U. S. social action writers, such as Clifford Odets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Odets’s writing style, as is that of others of his era, is
somewhat outdated by modern standards, due to its stylized language and
over-dramatized situations, but it is appropriate to highlight the rage that
was seething during the depression in the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This was an era of using the power of
drama and the other arts to push a specific political cause and create what has
commonly been dubbed in drama history as “people’s theatre.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And, since theatre is representative of
the era from which it comes, it is only appropriate that Odets’ words spew
forth and be heard in this, a decade of parallel social unrest.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The story centers on a hotly-contested strike vote in which
a corrupt union leader (Harry Fatt) tries to discourage the membership from
walking out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>His motives are
anything but pure, and definitely not in the interest of the membership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In a series of 8 vignettes, the tale is
told through the words of union members. The climax of the play comes when word
arrives that Lefty Costello, the leader of the strike faction, has been
killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This pushes the assemblage
over the top, and cries of, “strike,” “strike,” “strike” are heard as the play
comes to a shattering conclusion.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the analogues of theatre history<span style="text-transform:
uppercase">, “Waiting for Lefty</span> is seen as an important dramatic work
that offers historical evidence of the social power and aspirations of theatre.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ensemble’s production, being performed on a thrust stage in
their new home in the reconfigured gym of the former Coventry Elementary
School, lends itself to the up-close and in-your-face format of the script. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The performance, under the direction of Ian Hintz, is
generally excellent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The pacing is
even, the idea development clear, the use of graphics to bridge the various
eras of history are creative, and the music is appropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The ending, however, which didn’t
quite build to the desired climax, could have been more frenetic and
emotionally keyed, adding to the cry for change, for action.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The large cast, only two of whom are professional actors,
does a very creditable job of generally creating the right atmosphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Especially strong
performances were presented by Skip Corris, Layla Schwartz and James Rankin.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>WAITING FOR LEFTY is an important American play which
reflects not only the depression era, but is relevant in today’s chaotic
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Odets’ script gets a strong
performance at Ensemble Theatre.</i></p><i>
</i>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">WAITING FOR LEFTY runs through October 30 at
Ensemble Theatre now housed in Coventry School, 2843 Washington Blvd, Cleveland
Heights .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For tickets call
216-321-2930 or go online to <a href="http://www.ensemble-theatre.org">www.ensemble-theatre.org</a> </p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">Coming up at Ensemble:<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>ST. NICHOLAS, staged November 18-December 11 finds an aging
jaded theatre critic recounting his obsession with a young actress, and how
that obsession leads to a journey into a macabre world of vampires from which
he almost can’t escape.</p>