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REVIEW: Arlekin Players Theatre’s mesmerizing ‘The Dybbuk: Between two worlds’ returns

Posted on November 15 by The Sleepless Critic

Someone is laughing.

Its cadence echoes into a peerless and infectious glee that troubled Khonen, depicted by Andrey Berkovskiy, finds irresistible. It does not take long to see that Khonen will go to the ends of the earth and beyond seeking that voice chiming in its ethereal splendor.

Unique, haunting, funny, charming, spiritual, and exceptionally creative, The Dybbuk: Between two worlds remains a mesmerizing must-see theatrical experience.

I never use the term ‘must see’ lightly, but it nonetheless fits this particular production in all of its unexpected and immersive twists and turns set exclusively inside a Jewish synagogue. Brimming with unconventional creativity and cultural tradition, The Dybbuk is a spectacular journey and a dark tale steeped in meticulously timed and atmospheric special effects as it unveils a thrilling and enchanting piece of ancient Jewish folklore.

Andrey Berkovskiy and Yana Gladkikh Photo by Irina-Danilova

Imaginatively directed by Igor Golyak, written by Roy Chen, and based on the original play by S. Ansky, Arlekin Players continues the Elliot Norton Award-winning The Dybbuk: Between two Worlds live and in person at The Vilna Shul, Boston’s Center for Jewish Culture in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, November 16. This semi-interactive and well timed theatrical experience is not limited to the stage and runs 1 hour and 50 minutes with no intermission. Click here for more information and for tickets.

The Dybbuk: Between two worlds tackles love, marriage, faith, life, death, grief and the in between as well as the significance of a synagogue that still stands after all the turmoil it has endured. As the play observes describing a synagogue, ‘The walls are damp with tears.’ A synagogue can be the center of sorrow or great joy and community, but above all, it is a sanctuary of hope when all seems lost.

What makes this production so exciting, beautiful and so downright impressive is this complex and powerful classic tale is wrapped in a riveting experience. The Dybbuk is a grand and exhilarating journey, but it also depicts sweet moments of simplicity from Andrey Berkovskiy as restless Khonen and Yana Gladkikh as innocent Leah with finesse. Both characters shine in their perspective roles but Berkovskiy’s wondrous curiosity, playfulness, mischievousness, passion and anguish boast a spellbinding charisma. While his good intentions radiate in the smallest of gestures, Berkovskiy’s wide eyed wonder of this world and his boldness are often at odds as he agonizes over his fate. In long braids and ribbons, Gladkikh as sweet Leah demonstrates a beautiful vulnerability and conflict in her delicate and porcelain like features infused with a soothing and melodious voice that she also uses to sing. Gladkikh’s Leah is delightful, innocent, romantic, and naïve sharing with Berkovskiy a captivating, giddy, and endearing playfulness in a situation that is eternally complicated.

This enthusiastic cast blends intensity and humor and although this is an ancient tale, Golyak strings together elements of the traditional and the contemporary. Wearing a string of pearls and a black dress, Deb Martin commands the stage as Leah’s grandmother with a rigid frame yet bold and heightened awareness. Shrewd and protective with a dry sense of humor, Martin as Frade is not to be underestimated while Robert Walsh brings broad cynicism and dark humor to stubborn Sender.

Robert Walsh in ‘The Dybbuk’ Photo by Irina-Danilova

The Dybbuk’s immersive and unpredictable setting is fueled by ingenious creativity in Jeff Adelberg’s luminous lighting design in shadows and glowing stars seamlessly paired with Fedor Zhuravlev’s robust and occasionally manually created sound that animates this dark, mystical and ancient world filled with rustic crystal chandeliers and scaffolding that sit beneath a vast skylight by scenic designer Igor Golyak with Sasha Kuznetsova. The Dybbuk’s emotive light and sound deliver an ominous quality, humor, and awe-inspiring surprise nothing less than magical. The transformation of a simple piece of plastic is just a sample of the inventive flair that helps to piece together this often poetic tale.

Anna Furman, Olga Aranova, and Yana Gladkikh Photo by Irina-Danilova

Imaginatively directed by Igor Golyak, written by Roy Chen, and based on the original play by S. Ansky, Arlekin Players continues The Dybbuk: Between two worlds live and in person at The Vilna Shul, Boston’s Center for Jewish Culture in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, November 16. Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW: Chilling and significant lessons in Arlekin Players’ historical drama, ‘Our Class’

Posted on June 24 by The Sleepless Critic

They were classmates with dreams beyond the classroom…and it all changed.

After a successful run in New York, Arlekin Players Theatre continued Tadeusz Slobodzianek’s historical drama, Our Class live and in person at Calderwood Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts for a limited run through Sunday, June 22. Directly sharply by Igor Golyak and based around true events, this experimental and interactive work is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes with one intermission and the action is not limited to the stage. While the production is not graphic and bloody, it depicts violence through a mix of narration and dramatization that is remains raw and heartbreaking. Click here for information.

Richard Topol and cast in ‘Our Class’ Photo by Olga Maturana

Spanning from 1926 to 2007, Our Class traces a tumultuous time in history as a group of Polish students, composed of five Jewish and five Catholic students, connect and grow up together through World War II and beyond. While some students end up together, others live to regret ever knowing each other. From the innocence and mischief of childhood including sing-along, playtime, and crushes to turmoil, prejudice and much worse, this group of students make discoveries about each other in collective joy as well as pain and torment in a raw, unflinching, and harrowing account which includes the horrific Jedwabne pogrom massacre in 1941.

Richard Topol and cast Photo by Irina Danilova

Presented in an experimental and documentary-style dramatization of historical events, Our Class delivers some beautiful moments through song, camaraderie and childlike wonder as well as how hate, fanaticism, hypocrisy and corruption set in and how those closest to you can turn on each other. Knowing it is true makes it all the more unsettling and difficult to watch as this account delivers a collection of significant lessons from an enormous and increasingly populated blackboard by chalk drawing designer Andreea Mincic and a steel ladder as part of Jan Pappelbaum’s innovative and unfolding scenic design.

Song of ‘Our Class’ Photo by Irina Dailova

The chalkboard serves multiple purposes as home video, illustration and various forms of cinematography by Projection and Video Designer Eric Dunlap and Igor Golyak who embellish the comic, tense, and heartrending portions of this production. The props and creations developed onstage by these characters veer from heartwarming to harrowing using balloons and various classroom objects to uniquely chronicle the events onstage.

From glaring brightness to starlight to lurking shadows, Jeff Adelberg’s evocative lighting varies from harsh to haunting and moody alongside Ben Williams’ striking sound design.

Kirill Rubtsov, Ryan Czerwonko, Jeremy Beazlie, Gigi Watson in ‘Our Class’ Photo by Pavel Antonov

Wearing numbered T-shirts for a classroom photo, this collaborative cast skillfully takes on dual roles and the same actors cleverly depict their characters growing up through improvisation and vocal dexterity as decades pass. In a particularly humorous ensemble moment which weaves in Or Schraiber’s dynamic choreography, the classmates contemplate whether or not to dance to a playful kazoo-infused medley. It is one of sparingly few pieces of lightheartedness amidst the turmoil.

Chulpan Khamatova Photo by Irina Danilova

It is difficult to single out standout performances when this production hinges so much on complex and seamless collaboration. However, it is amazing that Deb Martin as Zocha delivered a dedicated and stellar performance despite her recent real life injury improvising onstage using a wheelchair. Chulpan Khamatova as Rachelka and Kirill Rubtsov as Rysiek give multilayered performances while Richard Topol as charming and idealistic Abram, Zach Fike Hodges who is especially compelling in dual roles including Jakub, and Gigi Watson as Dora are all unforgettable.

Deborah Martin and Gigi Watson in ‘Our Class’ Photo by Olga Maturana

The production is lengthy and it feels like it at times, though that can also be expected covering over an 80 year time span. These creative and cautionary lessons are as poignant and significant as they are devastating as these characters face bullying, grief, death, impossible choices and shattered dreams in a world gone mad. It may be too chilling and tense for some, but powerful nonetheless.

Full cast of ‘Our Class’ Photo by Olga Maturana

Directly sharply by Igor Golyak and based around true events, Arlekin Players Theatre continued Tadeusz Slobodzianek’s historical drama Our Class live and in person at Calderwood Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, June 22. Click here for more information.

REVIEW: Arlekin Players Theatre’s ‘The Dybbuk: Between two worlds’ a haunting and mesmerizing theatrical experience

Posted on June 13, 2024 by The Sleepless Critic

Someone is laughing.

Unique, haunting, funny, charming, spiritual, and exceptionally creative, The Dybbuk: Between two worlds is a mesmerizing must-see theatrical experience.

Imaginatively directed by Igor Golyak, written by Roy Chen, and based on the original play by S. Ansky, Arlekin Players continues The Dybbuk: Between two Worlds live and in person at The Vilna Shul, Boston’s Center for Jewish Culture in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, June 30. This semi-interactive theatrical experience is not limited to the stage and runs 1 hour and 50 minutes with no intermission. Click here for more information and for tickets.

The Set of ‘The Dybbuk’ in Vilna Shul .Photo by Irina Danilova

The Dybbuk: Between two worlds tackles love, marriage, life, death, grief and the in between as well as the significance of a synagogue that still stands after all the turmoil it has endured. As the play observes describing a synagogue, ‘The walls are damp with tears.’ A synagogue can be the center of sorrow or great joy, but above all, a sanctuary of hope when all seems lost.

Andrey Burkovskiy. and Yana Gladkikh Photo by Irina Danilova

What makes this production so exciting, beautiful and so downright impressive is this complex and powerful tale is wrapped in a riveting experience. The Dybbuk is a grand and exhilarating journey, but it also depicts sweet moments of simplicity from Andrey Berkovskiy as Khonen and Yana Gladkikh as Leah with finesse. Both characters shine in their perspective roles but Berkovskiy’s wondrous curiosity, playfulness, mischievousness, passion and anguish boast a spellbinding charisma. While his good intentions radiate in the smallest of gestures, Berkovskiy’s wide eyed wonder of this world and his boldness are often at odds as he agonizes over his fate. Gladkikh as Leah demonstrates a beautiful vulnerability and conflict in her delicate and porcelain like features infused with a soothing and melodious voice that she also uses to sing. Gladkikh’s Leah is delightful, innocent, romantic, and naïve sharing with Berkovskiy a captivating, giddy, and endearing playfulness in a situation that is eternally complicated.

Leah flies to Khonen. Photo by Irina Danilova

This enthusiastic cast blends intensity and humor and although this is an ancient tale, Golyak strings together elements of the traditional and the contemporary. Wearing a string of pearls and a black dress, Deb Martin portrays Leah’s grandmother with a rigid frame yet bold and heightened awareness. Shrewd and protective with a dry sense of humor, Martin as Frade is not to be underestimated.

Deb Martin as Frade. Photo by Irina Danilova

The Dybbuk’s immersive and unpredictable setting is fueled by ingenious creativity in Jeff Adelberg’s luminous lighting design seamlessly paired with Fedor Zhuravlev’s robust sound that animates this dark, mystical and ancient world filled with rustic crystal chandeliers and scaffolding that sit beneath a vast skylight by scenic designer Igor Golyak with Sasha Kuznetsova. The Dybbuk’s emotive light and sound deliver an ominous quality, humor, and awe-inspiring surprise nothing less than magical. The transformation of a simple piece of plastic is just a sample of the inventive flair that helps to piece together this often poetic tale.

Andrey Burkovskiy calling to Leah. Photo by Irina Danilova

Imaginatively directed by Igor Golyak, written by Roy Chen, and based on the original play by S. Ansky, Arlekin Players continues The Dybbuk: Between two worlds live and in person at The Vilna Shul, Boston’s Center for Jewish Culture in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, June 30. This semi-interactive theatrical experience is not limited to the stage and runs 1 hour and 50 minutes with no intermission. Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW: Chocolate promises and shattered dreams as Arlekin Players turn over a bizarre ‘Stone’

Posted on September 28, 2019 by The Sleepless Critic

It is a show unlike anything the Sleepless Critic has ever seen before. Arlekin Players is currently celebrating their 10th anniversary season as they present Marius von Mayenburg’s avant-garde production, ‘The Stone‘ (remount in English) through Sunday, September 29 in Needham, Massachusetts. Click here for more information and tickets. Click here for an interview done last year with director Igor Golyak.

Directed by Igor Golyak, ‘The Stone’ explores the history of a German house before and beyond World War II and its various owners which includes a Jewish family and their ancestors. Quite a few revelations and family secrets are revealed through traumas and triumphs inside this haunting structure.

Arlekin Plays 'The Stone' with Viktoriya Kovalenko, Rimma Gluzman and Olga Sokolova

Viktoriya Kovalenko, Rimma Gluzman and Olga Sokolova in Arlekin Players ‘The Stone’ Photo courtesy of Irina Danilova/Arlekin Players

The Arlekin Players stage is an overwhelming experience told in the theatre round without a bad seat. With vintage lighting by Jeff Adelberg, ‘The Stone’ features very few props and unconventionally arranged set pieces which includes a partially buried piano, a vintage chandelier, and a chair hanging upside down from the ceiling. As characters emerge and exit almost supernaturally from the floor in head-to toe-white with black paint splotches staining their pants, it quickly became clear that this would not be an orthodox production.

Photo courtesy of Irina Danilova/Arlekin Players

With wild white hair, a pair of navigators called the conductors, portrayed with bizarre humor by Jenya Brodskaia and Misha Tyutyunik, are seemingly mad scientists that conduct and calculate time travel. They take the audience through the history of the house before and beyond World War II, one of the most tumultuous times in history. The time travel is a raging, jarring experience with special effects that may have been effective the first couple of times, but starts to distract from the tale as the show moves along.

The characters march strangely and unnaturally, sometimes under a plastic umbrella, an urgent tale with segments between the characters so brief, it is difficult to develop an attachment to them. The cast is stoic for the most part, especially from Mieze, portrayed with a guarded, calculating air by Rimma Gluzman. When Viktoriya Kovalenko as idealistic Heidrun discovers a small box in the house that she believes was her father’s, portrayed with complexity by David Gamarnik as Wolfgang, the moment Heidrun has with her mother Witha, portrayed by Darya Denisova, provides a touching moment in the production.

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I’m sure there is an audience for experimental theatre and the actual tale is powerful, but too unconventional and at times confusing for my taste. It chooses to be different and complex when the story can be told in a straightforward way. It is still art and it’s unforgettable.

Arlekin Players presents ‘The Stone’ through Sunday, September 29 at 368 Hillside Ave in Needham, Massachusetts. Click here for more information and tickets and here for more information on the Igor Golyak Acting Studio.

Director Igor Golyak discusses the shocking and comical show, ‘Dead Man’s Diary: A Theatrical Novel’

Posted on March 13, 2018 by The Sleepless Critic

Taking a rich, multidimensional look at love and the theatre, the Arlekin Players proudly presents Mikhail Bulgakov’s Dead Man’s Diary: A Theatrical Novel for two weekends from Saturday, March 17 through Sunday, April 1 at Paramount Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Shocking and comical, Dead Man’s Diary: A Theatrical Novel is written in Russian and performed by Russian actors with English audio translation, but was created in Needham, Massachusetts. Click here for more information and for tickets.

Director Igor Golyak of ‘Dead Man’s Diary’ Photo courtesy of Igor Golyak Acting Studio

Dead Man’s Diary’s director and head of Igor Golyak Acting Studio, Igor Golyak, discusses this shocking and comical show’s fascinating background, developing the show’s unique style, and what it means to be successful.

Sleepless Critic: What is it about this show that made you decide to take on this piece?

Igor Golyak: I fell in love with the novel, a prose piece by Mikhail Bulgakov, which was not published until after his death as it was considered offensive to Stanislavsky and the Moscow Art Theatre. I wanted to adapt this unfinished novel for the stage because I saw it not only as satire on theatre, but as a vow of love to the theatre. Through this production, we wanted to express the conflicts and illusions around realizing oneself in the theatre through Bulgakov life’s work.

‘Dead Man’s Diary: A Theatrical Novel’ Photo courtesy of the Arlekin Players

SC: Arlekin Players is behind this production and they studied under the Igor Golyak Acting Studio. Please tell me about your studio and teaching philosophy. How can people join the Arlekin Players?

IG: Right now, I mostly cast my students because we develop our own theatre vocabulary during the training period. This takes some time. It is a big advantage as I know the capabilities of the actors and how to challenge them. What’s most important in the theatre is the atmosphere of mutual respect and appreciation in the training and rehearsal process. I aim to create this with the approach I take. People can join the company by applying, coming to rehearsals, and possibly doing some scenes with company members. Ultimately, if we mutually agree that the relationship can move forward, they join the company. We have a family-type atmosphere in our theatre just like in life. People get to know each other and some join the family.

SC: This diary is written by a scorned lover. How would you describe how the show depicts love or the lack thereof?

IG: I am not sure if there is a better way to express the love for the theatre than through Bulgakov’s words.

The main character, Maksudov says:

‘I returned to the theater which had now become as necessary to me as morphine to an addict.” and “But more important was my love for the Independent Theatre; I was now pinned to it like a beetle to a piece of cork…’

SC: The show offers a new perspective on theatre and is at times shocking. It also can be a bit haunting and bleak. How did you develop the style of this show?

IG: Each style of theatre for me is born out of the text, and the world of the author.

The main character says:

‘I started noticing that something colorful was emerging from the white pages.

The vision was not just a flat picture, but something three-dimensional. As if peering into a little box, I could see the light gleaming and the figures from my novel moving about. Oh, what a fascinating game it was to observe these characters moving about the little room.’

Using this text, we decided to create a box that all the characters live in, and with them, Maksudov, the main character. What kind of box should it be? Since the play depicts the Moscow Art Theatre in the 1920s, we decided that the shape of the walls of this box should depict the famous portrait foyer of the Moscow Art Theatre with portraits of the great artists of the time constantly staring at the author and characters inside the box. We then decided that the audience members should portray these portraits, and thus, we have the audience seated around the box, in which characters come alive. They are looking though their individual windows or portraits as if in a foyer of the legendary theatre. Maksudov therefore, is forever stuck like Prometheus in the ‘magical box’ or the ‘portrait foyer’ that he loves more than anything in the world.

A scene from Dead Man’s Diary: A Theatrical Novel Photo courtesy of Arlekin Players

SC: This show also features its share of absurd comedy as well.

IG: Correct. In Maksudov’s eyes, the actors in the theatre hire him to write a play are from a different, exotic, and fascinating world. It’s as if they are superhuman. The absurdity comes from the heightened level of passion of the characters and their incredible self-delusions, which at times are absurdly vulnerable and poetic, and at times absurdly cruel and self-absorbed. We recognize the faults of the human soul looking through Maskudov’s eyes as if though a looking glass, where the faults become exaggerated and ultimately comical.

SC: It describes not only theatre, but the writer’s journey and touches upon what it really means to be successful. What are your views on success?

IG: My view of success is having a group of artists, a team of sorts, which is united and inspired by each other to produce a specific piece of text. As a result, they are able to touch the souls of people in the audience. When this happens, I feel truly successful.

SC: What do you like most about this show and what is the best reason someone should attend?

IG: I think the acting, directing, set design, music composition, and collaborative imagination all work together to give this piece an unusual style. We are excited to bring what we believe is a unique contribution to the Boston Theatre Scene. Also, the piece was written in Russian and is performed by Russian actors but was adapted and created here. We are a local company making new work for the last 9 years. We have already had 20 performances of Dead Man’s Diary. For those who have seen and loved it, it has grown even more over time. See the show and you will not leave untouched.

Click here for more information and for tickets to Dead Man’s Diary: A Theatrical Novel from Saturday, March 17 through Sunday, April 1 at the Paramount Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. Follow the Arlekin Players on Facebook and Twitter.