Our Lessons Come From Unforeseen Teachers

Theater Review

There are lessons to be learned all around in Wendy Graf’s play of the same name presented by the West Coast Jewish Theatre and the Group at Strasberg at the Lee Strasberg Institute through August 27. And perhaps the biggest lesson is for Ruth (Mare Winningham), the Rabbi, whose study and knowledge of the Torah have prepared her for a life of teaching and guidance, but who forsakes that calling through crisis of faith. A great and sorrowful tragedy has crippled her with guilt and numbed her to the greatest lesson of life’the healing that love teaches. Ruth is hired by Ben, a secular Jew, to teach him Hebrew in preparation for his Bar Mitzvah. She agrees, reluctantly, but adamantly rejects Ben’s hope that she prepare him for the hallowed ceremony that marks the transitional phase into Jewish adulthood. Remote, sleepless and living on coffee and cigarettes, which she hides hither and yon around the apartment in a wan attempt to quit, Ruth gradually gives into Ben’s ebullient and loving self-confidence. The play, tightly controlled by director Adam Davidson, unfolds in a series a vignettes, like too many sitcom breaks, which is an unfortunate structure, no doubt attributable to Graf’s many years as a television writer. As their relationship deepens into a friendship, Ruth and Ben become comfortable in their gentle repartee, lightened by Ben’s joy and deepened by Ruth’s credible scholarship. Graf, a Palisades resident, portrays Ruth and conveys the Jewish teachings with respect and seriousness. As a non-Jew, I liked learning about the significance of the Torah passage and was quite moved by the simultaneous recitation of the Kaddish, in Hebrew and English. Certainly the strength of this play lies in the work of Mare Winningham (“St. Elmo’s Fire”) and Hal Linden (“Barney Miller”). Both accomplished actors, these two have created characters who find a place of reference in all of us. Produced by Gail Katz (“The Perfect Storm,” “The Agency”), “Lessons” is the second in Graf’s trilogy exploring Jewish philosophy. Her first play “The Book of Esther” premiered in 2001 at Theater East. The West Coast Jewish Theatre is devoted to the quality production of dramatic and comedic plays, musical theatre, revues and special performance that portray Jewish history, philosophy and culture. “Lessons” plays Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Lee Strasberg Institute’s Marilyn Monroe Theatre, 7936 Santa Monica Blvd. For tickets, call (323) 650-7777.