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Mamaleh
By Joseph N. Feinstein
The Jewish term "Mamaleh" means "little Mother" and is a term of endearment given by the family to the daughter. And Mamaleh is also the title of a most gentle, affectionate play now running at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks until May 20. Written and directed by Mitchell Uscher, the play comes to us from a most successful run off Broadway, and initially appeared in Hollywood before arriving at the Whitefire.
The four ladies, none of whom you will know, are a bundle of energy, warmth with extremely lovely voices, who will worm their way directly into your heart chakra. They are Susan Denaker, Jane Strauss, Jennifer Gordon, and Susan Dohan: they sing, dance, and emote with just the right amount of New York in their voices. The twenty songs which make up the program come in a variety of rhythms and tempos, and Uscher's lyrics reflect knowledge, kindness, and, above all, love. For instance, in the opening song entitled "Mamaleh," we hear the words "more than mother, more than daughter, Mamaleh is the center of someone's life and another word for love."
You will learn about the great destination of Boca Raton, the problems inherent in marriage, the problems of being single, the problems in all families with grudges, the significance of family, a few rituals of the Jew, loneliness and mishegas (craziness).
You will learn that it takes no Jewish mothers to change a lightbulb, for they'd rather just sit in the dark. You'll discover that Florida gets the appellation of "God's Waiting Room." You are told that the one gift mothers give freely to each of their children is guilt. And the ultimate "Jewish Mother" joke was that Moses' mother might have told her son: "You're lost in the desert forty years? You could have at least written! Here, you'll develop insight into how to roast meat, tend relationships, cope with family, and there will be a tribute to grandmas with the song, "Grandma's Hands". It's all told gently and sweetly.
The theater is small, and the day we were there it was filled to capacity. The lovely pictures adorning the stage are of Mr. Uscher's grandmother and aunt as well as the "stoop" he sat on as a child living on Bryant Avenue in The Bronx.
Roy Singer's music is pleasant, though not memorable. The fifteen dollar CD could be a nice gift to help one remember the past. Deborah Geffner's choreography keeps some nice steps going, especially when Grandma (Strauss) as a bellhop does her thing. And Mario Griego's costumes really take us back to the 50's and 60's, with some outlandish dresses to ooh and aah about. Should anyone be at a loss about some of the Jewish expressions used in the play, a glossary of "Mamaleh-isms" can be found in the Playbill.
Is this is great play? No. Is this a play with heart? Yes, miles and miles of heart! And, it is a play that offers some sage advice: " When you realize you don't have all the answers, that's when you know you've really learned!" This is a sweet, nostalgic look back at our childhood, our lives, where we came from, and the part that families play in who we are. Go and enjoy.
Mamaleh Whitefire Theatre 13500 Ventura Boulevard Sherman Oaks 866-262-6253
Thursdays @ 2:00 p.m.; Saturdays @ 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.; Sundays @ 1:00 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. Tickets $34.50; $33 for seniors; children $25 Until May 20.
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