Common Ground's 40th Annual

The Value Of Names

Ronelle Grier

Contributing Writer

A

re certain actions beyond
the realm of forgiveness?
Can art be judged regard-
less of the artist's character? What
happens when personal ethics col-
lide with the path of one's chosen
career?
These are some of the weighty
questions posed by playwright
Jeffrey Sweet in his
80-minute drama,
The Value of Names,
the 2014-15 Jewish
Ensemble Theatre season opener.
Directed by Yolanda Fleisher,
the play takes place more than 30
years after the notorious 1947 hear-
ings of the House Un-American
Activities Committee, spearheaded
by the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy,
which resulted in the blacklisting of
hundreds of actors, screenwriters,
directors and other Hollywood art-
ists accused of having Communist
affiliations.
The story centers on black-
list victim and longtime comic
actor Benny Silverman (Thomas
Mahard); his aspiring actress
daughter, Norma (commendably
played by his real-life daughter,
Kathryn Mahard); and Leo Greshin
(Phil Powers), a successful director
whose testimony was instrumental
in placing Silverman on the black-
list.
The story unfolds on the pictur-
esque ocean-view patio of Benny's
California home, complete with

lattice-trimmed redwood decking,
a lemon tree and colorful Calder-
esque mobiles created by actor
Thomas Mahard.
Father and daughter are arguing
over Norma's decision to change
her last name when Norma drops a
bigger bombshell: The director of
the play she has recently been cast
in has taken ill, and his replace-
ment is none other than Benny's
old nemesis.
Benny, who has never
forgiven Leo for betray-
ing him to the McCarthy
committee, announces
he will not attend her play if Leo is
involved.
The drama intensifies when Leo
arrives unannounced, ostensibly
to persuade Norma to remain in
the show, and the two old friends
come face to face for the first time
in 30 years. Their confrontation
constitutes the play's most power-
ful scene, demonstrating the con-
siderable talents of both Thomas
Mahard and Powers.
The impressive set is courtesy of
designer Daniel C. Walker, props
and set decorator Diane Ulseth and
lighting designer Scott R. Ross.
Sound design is by Matt Lira and
costumes by Mary Copenhagen. ❑

REVIEW

JET presents The Value of
Names through Oct.12. Show
times and tickets:
(248) 788-2900;
www.jettheatre.org .

SEPTEMBER 20 & 21

Zi

Saturday, lOarn — 6pm • Sunday, 10am — 5pm
On Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham
Common Presenting the original artwork of 150 jury-selected artists.
Ground
Featuring the Annual Art Auction to benefit Common Ground.

Plus, kids'art activities with the DIA. Admission is free.

"Much-heralded Star Deli slow-cooks
its own tender temptations"

— Danny Raskin

Order
Your
Holiday Trays
Now!

TAR Order your
ELI Holiday Trays &

Specialties today!

COMPARE OUR LOW PRICES WITH ANY DELICATESSEN IN TOWN.

MEAT TRAY

DAIRY TRAY

SALAD TRAY

$10.99=.

$21.49 person

$11.49 person

Potato Latkes * Handcut Lox
Our Regular Tuna & Fat-Free Tuna Can't Be Beat!
Vegetarian Chopped Liver
Homemade Potato Salad & Coleslaw

HOURS: MON-SAT 7AM-9PM • SUN 7AM-8PM

24555 W. 12 MILE ROADI

Just west of Telegraph Road • Southfield I

"No one would fund it, so I did it
myself; he says, taking the reins out of
sheer desperation and necessity.
Marion and Geoff wound up win-
ning numerous awards in Britain
and led to numerous other television
projects for Blick, most notably the
2011 series The Shadow Line, star-
ring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Christopher
Eccleston.
The Honorable Woman is being
shown simultaneously in the United
Kingdom and the United States,
thanks to the distribution partner-
ship between the BBC and Sundance
Channel.
Surprisingly, though, Blick says there
are no plans at present to show it in
Israel. He affirms that it will happen
"at the right moment; especially since

the series has received such a positive
response from both critics and viewers.
"People have engaged in the dexter-
ity of the exploration of the story:' he
says. "I hope it does have some place
in the region's understanding of itself.
Some small place:'

SALAD TRAY W/ LOX & CREAM CHEESE

248-352-7377

I
I
I

www.stardeli.net

$14.99

person

5 OFF

On Star's beautiful already:
low-priced trays

Expires 10/2/14. One Per Order. Not Good Holidays.I
I
10 Person Minimum. With this coupon.
I
DELIVERY AVAILABLE

1943530

Buy $100 worth of gift cards and get a $20.00 Complimentary gift card for yourselP.!!

Kids
Eat Free
Monday

❑

This article first appeared in Philadelphia's
Jewish Exponent.

The Sundance Channel airs The
Honorable Woman at 10 p.m.
Thursdays through Sept.18. For
additional show times, go to
sundance.tv. For past episodes,
you can check your provider's
On-Demand services, or go to
bbc.co.uk/iplayer.

Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

248.476.0044
Buy on - lunch or dinner entree
15% off
and get the second 1/2 off
I
total food bill
Of equal or lesser value

Not good with any other coupons.
Not good on holidays. One coupon per couple. Up to $30
Expires 10/01/14

I

I

I

Not good with any other coupon.
Not good on holidays. One coupon per couple. Up to $30
Expires 10/01/14

Haggerty Road
Auburn Hills • 1 1/2 miles south of the Palace of Auburn Hills

Farmington Hills • Corner of Grand River &

JN

September 11 • 2014

1.8370

63