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PHOTO CREDIT
Mug Cutline
Mug Cutline
Contributing Writer
SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
D
avid Wells, an Ann Arbor
playwright, read the book
John Lennon vs. the U.S.A. and
became fascinated by Lennon’
s 1970s
immigration battle. He decided the
story and its relevance to current issues
merited theatrical attention.
Research prompted a meeting with
Michael Wildes, son of the book’
s New
York author Leon Wildes, who repre-
sented the famous Beatle confronting
deportation.
The Wells-Wildes conversations
about the case and the friendship
between the senior attorney and
Lennon yielded a two-person play,
Mazel Tov, John Lennon. The produc-
tion, featuring Phil Powers as Leon
Wildes and Forrest Hejkal as John
Lennon, runs through April 14 at
Theatre Nova in Ann Arbor.
The “mazel tov” in the title stems
from the Jewish lawyer’
s perspective
shown on stage. Wells’
understanding
came from Jewish community ties
developed during his high school years
in West Bloomfield.
“This is essentially a play about
immigration as a political tool and
presidential abuse of power,
” explains
Wells, whose plays have been rec-
ognized through the Edgerton
Foundation New Play Award, National
New Play Network Showcase and
Wilde Award for Best New Script.
The play is based on the actual
events of the trial and all of Leon’
s
maneuvering to keep Lennon in the
country.
Before Wells mar-
keted his script, he
sought approval from
Wildes and his son.
Michael Wildes
especially likes the
elements that connect
lawyer and musician.
He recalls Lennon visiting his home
and is glad a family friendship contin-
ues with Yoko Ono, Lennon’
s widow.
He also recalls Lennon’
s interest in the
observant Judaism practiced by his
father.
“No other place has the dialogue
deteriorated worse than in immi-
gration,
” Wildes adds. “We, as Jews,
because of our own biblical journey,
need to remind ourselves how import-
ant this is to America’
s DNA.
”
Wells, who studied playwriting
and screenwriting at the University
of Michigan, takes audiences back to
the Nixon years, the start of voting
for those age 18. He links the attempt
at deporting Lennon with concerns
about Lennon’
s influence on the youth
vote.
“Leon sued the government
with [regard to the] Freedom of
Information Act, and it was revealed
the government had a policy of pre-
ferred action for deportation,
” Wells
says, adding the Obama administra-
tion used that as the basis of DACA
(Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals). “Dreamers are a direct ben-
eficiary of Leon Wildes’
work on this
case.
”
Michael Wildes explains the case
evolved out of events in Ann Arbor
after a Lennon appearance. His song in
support of writer-activist John Sinclair,
it is believed, helped gain Sinclair’
s
release from a prison sentence result-
ing from marijuana charges.
Leon Wildes talks of
the successful litigation.
“It showed me the work I
had been doing was much
more important than it
was recognized by every-
body else,
” he says. “It
would affect very import-
ant parts of our lives.
” ■
arts&life
COURTESY OF GOLDEN RECORD MEDIA COMPANY
Phil Powers
and Forrest
Hejkal in
Mazel Tov, John
Lennon by
David Wells.
Ann Arbor playwright’
s work brings
John Lennon’
s deportation case to the stage.
Details
Mazel Tov, John Lennon
runs through April 14 at
Theatre Nova, 410 W.
Huron, Ann Arbor. $22.
(734) 635-8450.
theatrenova.org.
Real-Life Drama
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