April 4 • 2019 45
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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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