The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit Jimmy
Prentis Morris Building/Target Concert Series presents

OY VEY CHANUKAH!

A totally klezmer Chanukah concert for kids starring

Sruli and Lisa

All That Glitters Isn't Gold

JET's "Twilight of the Golds"
poses some disturbing questions.

to feel the tension of the opposing
viewpoints.
However, the production
Special to the Jewish News
makes it impossible to sympathize with
onathan Tolins' Twilight of the
any one other than David, who has the
only ethically defensible position. This
Golds — which runs at the
could be the playwright's lapse.
Jewish Ensemble Theatre
Suzanne's ultimate choice — one
through the end of December
which comes as no surprise — is
— poses an ethical dilemma: How much
morally inexcusable, regardless of an
advance knowledge about a fetus is it
unconvincing pro-choice argument.
good to possess? And, more specifically,
Art most resembles life "when it is at
what would you do if you knew your
yet-unborn child was des-
its most outrageous,"
tined to be gay?
David instructs, voicing
The central character is
Tolins' awareness of the
second act's glaring
David Gold (Andrew
implausibility. After all,
Glaszek), an articulate
opera aficionado and set
David is the-brightest,
painter at the MET.
most animated member of
Throughout the play, he
the family. The reaction of
interprets the world
the Golds to Suzanne hav-
ing a gay child is ridicu-
around him by comparing
it to the thrilling and
lously disproportionate.
The cast of JET's
heroic stories of Wagner's
To compound the
"Twilight of the Golds." problem of the play itself,
Ring cycle, in which he is
immersed. David's
JET's production is
uneven. Philip Fox is solid as the
repeated attempts to enlighten his
patriarch of the Golds. Andrew
shallow and snotty sister Suzanne
Glaszek gives us a charismatic and
Gold-Stein (Carey Crim), a med-
likeable David. But Carey Crim's
school drop-out turned buyer at
forced performance is barely tolerable.
Bloomingdale's, are continually met
Her acting is artificial, an unfortunate
with mockery and disdain.
distraction in a theater as wonderfully
When Suzanne announces her preg-
intimate as the Aaron DeRoy space.
nancy to her family, her arrogant and
She seems to be perpetually smirking.
selfish husband Rob (Robert Morgan)
In contrast, Henrietta Hermelin
— a genetics researcher for a major cor-
Weinberg, as Suzanne's mother Phyllis
poration — reveals that the state-of-
Gold, delivers the most genuine perform-
the-science is further along than the
ance in the play. Weinberg's Phyllis
public believes. He has access to an
begins as a caricature, but steadily devel-
inner circle of doctors who are able to
ops into a complex figure, struggling with
test for a fetus's characteristics after a
her desire to be everything to everyone.
mere five weeks of pregnancy. Against
Twilight of the Golds is an ambitious
the protestations of David, who accuses
drama. Almost Medea-like in its intent,
his brother-in-law of advocating Nazi
it clearly wants to have tragic propor-
eugenics, Rob ultimately convinces
tions. But, although it has moments of
Suzanne to undergo the procedure.
compelling insight, it is ultimately an
The diagnosis? Suzanne's developing
ineffective and forgettable play. ❑
baby is healthy, but — alas — destined
to be, in the strangely euphemistic lan-
guage of the play, "like David." Gay.
Performances of Twilight of the
And here is where the play falters.
Golds are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday,
The crux of the drama, that Suzanne
Thursday, Sunday; 8 p.m.
and Rob would be horrified and dis-
Saturday; matinees Wednesday
turbed, rings false. After the apparent
and Sunday at 2 p.m. The Aaron
bombshell is dropped, the play loses its
DeRoy Theatre is located at 6600
credibility. It is a moderately provoca-
West
Maple Road, West
tive premise, but in Tolins' execution,
Bloomfield.
For more informa-
there is simply not enough intellectual
tion or to purchase tickets, call
rigor to make for a compelling conflict.
(248) 788-2900.
Program notes by director Nicholas
Calanni indicate that we are supposed
INESSIMMIONEMela

AUDREY BECKER

jr

Sunday, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m.

Jimmy Prentis Morris Building
A. Alfred Taubman Jewish Community Campus
.15110 W. 10 Mile, Oak Park

Bring the whole family to this unique concert experience.
It's a new way to celebrate Chanukah. Fee: $3 for child member, $4
for adult member, $4 for child non-member and $5 for adult non-
member.

Tickets available at the JPM Building front desk.
Call (248) 967-4030 for information.

Sponsored by: The Charles and Frances Driker Fund for Yiddish Culture

C

TARGET

Looking fir a place for your guests
for the next wedding, bar or bat mitzvah?

• Group Rates
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in Downtown Birmingham
• Terry Cloth Robes
• Complimentary Breakfast

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Gift Certificates for local
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• Beautiful, Spacious Rooms
• High Speed Internet Access
in All Rooms

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