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`Horowitz And Mrs. Washington'
AUDREY BECKER
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Special to the Jewish News
enry Denker's play
Horowitz and Mrs.
Washington explores an
unlikely friendship that
develops between an elderly Jewish man
recovering from a stroke, and the black
woman who is hired to care for him.
Before the onset of the stroke,
Horowitz was knifed in an
attempted mugging by young
black men. This event has
heightened his pre-existing racism and
has prejudiced him even further. When
his son Marvin employs Harriet
Washington, a nurse trained in physical
therapy, Horowitz refuses and resists, but
— as the only way to maintain his inde-
pendent living — finally agrees that she
become his full-time aide.
Mrs. Washington, too, has her
motives for accepting a job rehabilitat-
ing a man who makes hostile verbal
attacks and racial slurs: she needs the
income to help out her daughter and
her grandchildren.
The theme of black and white learn-
ing from each other in mundane cir-
cumstances may not seem radically new
— think Driving Miss Daisy, or NBC's
short-lived drama series I'll Fly Away —
but Denker's script is touching.
However, although somewhat effec-
tive on an emotional level, the play is
not terribly challenging on issues of
race relations and ethnic difference.
What weakens Denker's script is that
Mrs. Washington is comparatively
underdeveloped. She's a familiar char-
acter type: the resilient, determined,
wise, motherly black woman. What
are her shortcomings? Her mispercep-
tions? Denker doesn't give her any.
The play would be far more interest-
ing if Mrs. Washington was written with
greater insight, idiosyncrasy and detail.
JET's current production, directed
by Pat Ansuini, is lively and energetic,
mostly due to the thoughtful perform-
ance by Robert Grossman in one of
the title roles. Grossman carries the
show, bringing layers of nuance to the
Horowitz character with Jerry Stiller-
esque timing. Grossman's cadences
sound genuine, adding an inspired
naturalism to the part. It's a confident
performance, demonstrating remark-
able range. .
Jennifer Jones brings a stateliness to
the role of Harriet Washington.
Although the actress looks consider-
ably younger than Mrs. Washington is
meant to be, Jones projects an appeal-
ing quality of maturity and agelessness
that underscores the character. While
Denker hasn't given her as much to
work with as Grossman, Jones projects
Mrs. Washington's competency and
compassion, and — more importantly
— her charitable willingness to forgive
Horowitz's obstinate bigotry
Greg Trzaskoma, a JET veter-
an, makes a small appearance
in a supporting role as
Marvin, Horowitz's son. As
always with Trzaskoma, the perform-
ance is warm and wonderful.
However, with Mona, Horowitz's
bossy daughter, played by Linda Rabin
Hammell, Denker resorts to the easy
cliche. Hammell, unfortunately, plays
up the caricature and doesn't give
Mona much additional depth.
One of the most impressively consis-
tent aspects of recent JET productions
has been Monika Essen's artful set
design. In Horowitz and Mrs.
Washington, Essen comes through
again, creating a lovingly worn New
York apartment, decorated with walls
of old photographs. It contributes
immensely to the play's overall sense of
sincerity.
The play succeeds as a portrait of
human dignity in the face of hatred
and vulnerability. But as far as its
comment on race relations, Horowitz
and Mrs. Washington — which Denker
adapted from his own novel — is dis-
appointingly conservative.
We know at the beginning of the
play that the closed-minded Mr.
Horowitz is able to accept blacks only
on a one-on-one basis. Familiarity, it
seems, dissipates his contempt. But his
"friendship" with Mrs. Washington
doesn't necessarily overturn his racist
worldview. We are left with a sadly
nagging question: Has Horowitz truly
grown, or has he just grown accus-
tomed to her face? Cl
Jewish Ensemble Theatre pres-
ents Horowitz and Mrs.
Washington through June 10 at
the West Bloomfield Jewish
Community Center. Show times
are 7:30 Wednesdays, Thursdays
and Sundays; 8 p.m. Saturdays;
and 2 p.m. Sundays. For more
information or to purchase tick-
ers, call (248) 788-2900.
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