arts & entertainment
By Matthew Lopez
Directed by Gary Anderson
A Dog's Life
*There is no performance on. September 29th.
In a new book, Susan Orlean writes
about an animal icon, Rin Tin Tin.
It is the first night of Passover, 1865. Time for a Seder. Where? A
half-destroyed house in Richmond, Va. The wine? Stolen. The matzo: a
small square of hardtack, the tough soldier's bread. Uncooked collard
greens play the role of the bitter herbs. And the three unlikely
participants? All Jewish: two newly freed slaves and an injured
Confederate soldier whose family home gill three are uncom-
fortably inhabiting in the reordered aftermath of the
just-conclud.ed Civil War. It is Simon, the elder of the two
former slaves and a man of strong, unswerving faith who
leads the ceremony. Little by little we find out that
Simon and the younger John learned to worship in the
faith of their owners, the family of Caleb DeLeon. We
also see the conto of a new world gro irm before
our eyes.
Suzanne Chessler
Contributing Writer
S
usan Orlean recalls a Rin Tin
Tin figurine kept by her late
Hungarian Jewish grandfa-
ther and wonders whether seeing the
American setting in the canine leg-
end's films helped motivate her rela-
tive to leave the country of his birth.
Orlean has been thinking a lot and
anew about the decades
of fans attracted
oczl- EP‘
S!11/4 1.4
to the German
shepherd icon as
she pursues cross-
country presentations
exploring her latest
Tin Tin being the
book, Rin Tin Tin: The
U.S. mascot in World
Life and the Legend
War II, inspiring
-T14 E
(Simon & Schuster).
Americans to donate
LEG E.1•ID
Two presentations are
their pets to be used
set for Michigan.
in the war. That said
She joins four other
everything, to me,
writers Monday, Oct. 17, for
about how com-
the Metro Detroit Book and
mitted people were to
Author Society Luncheon at
supporting the military."
Burton Manor in Livonia. The next eve-
Orlean, who got the idea for the
ning, at the Michigan Theater in Ann
book while working on another
Arbor, she gives a talk, does readings,
assignment, recounts the ownership
signs books and screens a Rin Tin Tin
of the original Rin Tin Tin, found by
silent film, Clash of the Wolves.
American soldier Lee Duncan in the
"My grandfather lived in Hungary
ruins of a bombed-out dog kennel in
until his 20s, and his decision to move World War I France. Duncan brought
was extremely significant because
the German shepherd to California
the rest of his family and my grand-
and prepared him for silent films that
mother's family were killed in the
saved Warner Bros. from bankruptcy.
camps," says Orlean, 55, a University of
The author follows later embodi-
Michigan graduate. "It was a decision
ments of Rin Tin Tin as they worked
that saved his life."
in talkies, radio and television. She
The book, in recounting the Rin Tin explains the commitments of Bert
Tin history and successes, recalls the
Leonard, producer of the TV series
dog's best-known Jewish fan, Anne
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, and
Frank, and delves into the author's
Daphne Hereford, owner of the current
shocking research about the ways that
Rin Tin Tin.
Nazis treated their animals.
"This is a book about the passion
"I found the whole narrative of
of the three people who are my main
Nazis' fascination with animal rights
characters',' says Orlean, an animal
to be mind-boggling and utterly
enthusiast whose upstate New York
inconsistent with any other fact I
home and property has kept dogs, cats,
associated with them:' says Orlean, a
ducks, chickens and black angus cattle.
writer for the New Yorker as well as
"It's also about a through-line in
author of The Orchid Thief Saturday
American culture that happens to be a
Night and Animalish.
dog. Rin Tin Tin makes public appear-
"There were so many side stories in
ances, and there was a film that came
my work on this book.
out a couple of years ago. He still exists
"I learned the whole saga of Rin
as an ongoing character." Fl
0,0 0 1171,1e/
RIN
Get Your, r
114
•
248.
JET performki t Aarqn
o.60g.
txONG 1-1 U4
FINE CHINESE DINING
'A wonderful adventure in fine dining" — Danny Raskin
Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner
Catering and carryout available
Gift certificates
27925 Orchard Lake Rd., North of 12 Mile, Farmington Hills
248-489-2280
www.honghuafinedining.com
Log on to JNonline.us
giveaways • forums • calendars
VISIT JNonline.us
52
September 29 a 2011
elie&
-
Susan Orlean will speak at the Metro Detroit Book and Author
Society Luncheon noon Monday, Oct.17, at the Burton Manor, 27777
Schoolcraft, Livonia. $30. (734) 397-0999, ext.119. She'll present a talk,
reading, book signing and screening at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct.18, at the
Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor. $15-$18. (734) 668-8463.