The Immigrant
Originally a theater production in the early ‘80’s, Mark Harelik’s play, The Immigrant, tells the story of his grandparents who fled the pogroms of Russia in 1909. A new musical version of the play, written by Harelik, with lyrics by Sarah Knapp and music by Steven M. Alper, is playing now at The Colony Theatre in Burbank.
Haskell Gorehlich (Christopher Guilmet) a young Jewish man comes to America, landing in Galveston, Texas. He ends up in a small farming community of Hamilton, Texas, unable to speak English, with no place to go and nothing in his pockets. He builds himself a small cart from which he begins peddling bananas for a penny apiece. Finding himself at the front door of the town banker Milton Perry (Joe J. Garcia) and his wife Ima (Cynthia Marty), he first sells them some bananas, then asks (in Yiddish) for water, followed by inquiring for a place to live. Eventually, through body language, they understand him, and Ima, whose Christian heart tells her Haskell needs help, convinces Milton to let him stay in their home. When she discovers that he is Jewish, she feels she made a mistake and wants to renege, but Milton feels a promise is a promise. Milton and Ima learn to respect Haskell and treat him as family, and
Milton does what he can to help him to start a real business. He even convinces Haskell to change his name to Harelik, one that is easier for Americans! When his life improves, Haskell sends for his wife Leah (Monica Louwerens) to join him in Hamilton, TX. What a surprise for the Perrys! The Perrys and the Hareliks become very close friends, and as the years go by, Ima even helps deliver Leahs three boys, the last one being named Milton for their closest friend. By 1942, the boys have grown and there is much unsettling in the world. Life is not always a bed of roses and, at a Sabbath dinner with the Perrys, Milton and Haskell have a discussion about the politics of war that develops into a falling out between them. For sometime, their friendship is over, but Leah and Ima retain their friendship. When Milton falls ill, Haskell realizes what a true friend Milton has always been to him, that without him he would, perhaps, not be alive, nor would he have become the successful
businessman that he is.
Along with the dialogue of this story, much of it is told with beautiful music and lyrics (under the musical direction of Dean Mora), though it is not music that you leave the theater singing. The four actors are just right for their roles, not only for their acting, but for their singing voices as well, under the superb direction of Hope Alexander.
Recommended.
The Colony Theatre
555 North Street
Burbank, CA