to Ralph, hoping that he can escape their home and make a better life for himself.
Meanwhile, Hennie Berger (Miriam Silverman) the daughter reflects her mother's strong will and passion. However, her views on love completely contradict those of her mother, causing the two to be in a constant state of argument. Hennie is also engaged in an ongoing love-hate battle with Moe Axelrod (Adam Danheisser) a cynical and smooth-talking army vet who lost his leg in the war. Hennie is able to maintain her strong will until she is blind-sided by the news of her own pregnancy with an illegitimate and unnamed father. Forced into a loveless marriage to maintain her family's pride, Hennie becomes a reflection of her mother while living in her own personal hell where she despises her family and is forced to live a lie.
The similarities and differences between mother and daughter encourage tremendous dramatic tension between the two characters and is superbly captured by Silverman and Robbins with moving, emotional arguments throughout "Awake and Sing."
In her desperate attempt to maintain control over the family that is collapsing around her, Bessie is driven to the breaking point and begins to believe the lies she tells to maintain normalcy, creating a chimera where her daughter loves her husband from a forced marriage and her son enjoys his minimalist life. Over the course of the year the quarreling amongst the family worsens as they move closer and closer to the edge and complete fragmentation, with the younger Berger's threatening to turn their backs on their parents and make a better life for themselves.
The acting in the play is unquestionably phenomenal and the characters come to life before the audience's eyes and grow and develop in their short time on stage. This believability causes the audience to inevitably connect to the emotions portrayed by the entire cast. The simple yet eloquent language and dialogue used by the characters further strengthens this sense of realism. This dialogue that the play is comprised of also establishes a solid balance between light-hearted and comedic banter and powerfully dramatic and elevated speech.
Although the strong Jewish themes in "Awake and Sing" seem to have been repeated in countless plays before it, "Awake and Sing" hardly seems worn-out. Rather, it brings a fresh perspective to its historical time period, and despite a predictable plotline, keeps the audience captivated and emotionally involved in the drama on stage.
"Awake and Sing" is powerful and brilliantly reflects the struggles many faced during the Great Depression, while uncovering the frailties of the human spirit. This must-see is definitely worth singing about.
"Awake and Sing" is playing at Arena Stage through March 5, 2006. Tickets are on sale at www.arenastage.org.
Daniel Klein. Daniel Klein is a junior in the Communications Arts Program and excited for a great year on print staff. When not working on a story he enjoys playing for Blair's awe-inspiring, breathtaking and downright cool boys' lacrosse team (and encourages everyone to come see us … More »