STAGE REVIEW: TRAIN TO ZAKOPANE By: Faiz No comments

Semyon (Mike Falkow) and Katia (Tanna Frederick) in Train to Zakopane.

Nursing the hatred

By Ed Rampell

Before the world premiere of Train To Zakopane, playwright Henry Jaglom briefly introduced the drama. The noted indie filmmaker of such films as Eating and Festival in Cannes stated that the play was based on a true story his father had told him. South African surfer-turned-thespian Mike Falkow portrays the protagonist based on Jaglom`s dad, here named Semyon Sapir, in this tale set in 1928 Poland.

Act I is set on the titular train, as Semyon beats the crowd and joins a sleeper inhabited by three other passengers. Among them is the priest Father Alexandrov (Stephen Howard) and the young blonde virginal Polish beauty, Katia Wampusyk (Tanna Frederick, a regular in Jaglom's recent films). Katia is a delightful traveling companion -- excellent for one, shall we say, personality quirk and flaw: Wampusyk is a vicious anti-Semite.

Like most Jew haters her bigotry is based on a sheer ignorance Wampusyk believes is the gospel truth, which Father Alexandrov basically seconds the motion. Among other things, the Polish nurse proclaims she can spot a Jew from a mile away. Semyon debate the points, with no success. So, to teach her a lesson, Semyon -- who is reluctantly smitten by his fellow commuter -- hides the fact that he is himself Jewish and romantically pursues Wampusyk.

In Act II the two youthful lovebirds disembark at the eponymous Zakopane, a resort town in southern Poland where Wampusyk had previously worked as a nurse at an important clinic for typhoid victims. Romance ensues at an upscale hotel, as Semyon continues to hide his Jewish background from his lovely, if prejudiced, lover.

Train To Zakopane makes the powerful point that prior to the Nazis coming to power in Germany, the Poles were Europe`s – no, the world`s -- worst anti-Semites. Is this true? I don`t know, but it`s food for thought.

In any case, Train To Zakopane is probably one of the most hard hitting plays about bigotry to appear onstage in ages. Among other things, the drama ponders the notion of hiding one`s identity as a survival mechanism. In addition to Semyon`s deception, fellow passenger Nadia Selmeczy (Cathy Arden), and actress, and her brother, Nahum Gruenbaum (Jeff Elam), a doctor, are self-denying Jews who conceal their heritage. As the old saying goes, “To get along you have to go along.”

Train To Zakopane is a bit talky like, well, a Jaglom film, but it`s well-directed by Gary Imhoff, who has previously directed other Jaglom works for the theater. The drama is also well-acted; Falkow has that 1930s/1940s matinee idol appeal, with the looks and mannerisms of the suave, continental Paul Henreid and Franchot Tone, which is ideal for this period piece. Frederick manages to conjure up a character who is, at the same time, paradoxically hateful and yet so loving. Set designer Chris Stone effectively and literally sets the scene with his train and then resort hotel scenery.

This tale of strangers on a train is a thought provoking, poignant plea for tolerance. The plight of Jews in 1928 Poland, with the rise of the Nazis lurking and looming in the background, is strong stuff.(Once Hitler invaded Poland in 1939, it was out of the frying pan and literally into the fire for Poland and Europe`s Jews.) Jaglom`s play also made this Jewish reviewer reflect that that old bromide “Misery ennobles those who suffer” is a lie. If anything, misery loves company. Instead of learning from our tragic past, full of man`s inhumanity to man, just consider the ongoing pain of cosmic proportions that ultra-extremist, militaristic Zionists continue to inflict upon today`s wretched of the Earth: The Palestinians.

Will they ever learn?

 

Train To Zakopane runs through March 29  at Edgemar Center for the Arts, 2437 Main St., Santa Monica, CA, 90405. Reservations: 310-392-7327; www.edgemarcenter.org.

AUSTIN 2011: 6 MONTH RULE By: Faiz No comments

Tyler (Blayne Weaver) in 6 Month Rule.

Trapped

By Don Simpson

The titular six month rule is one of many rules created and adhered to by Tyler (Blayne Weaver). It essentially states that after six months, anyone can recover from any relationship. Of course Tyler is a womanizing, commitment-phobic jerk who is unable (and unwilling) to maintain a relationship with any woman for more than six months. Heck, who needs a commitment when you have a sexy model, Wendy (Vanessa Branch), who waits around her apartment in lingerie hoping you will stop by for a “no strings attached” quickie? So, yes, of course Tyler would think relationships are not essential and easy to recover from!

But then fate rears its hand and determines that Tyler will meet Sophie (Natalie Morales) — who instead of being his “usual” type is his “real” type (ah, more warped Tyler logic to digest) — and he falls head over heels for her. This strange twist of fate occurs around the same time that Tyler’s best friend, Alan (Martin Starr), slips into a monotonic depression after a break-up with his long-term “mojito bitch” fiance, Claire (Jaime Pressly).

6 Month Rule is surprisingly formulaic for the first two acts, but then the final act surprisingly defies all conventional Hollywood rom-com/buddy movie tropes. In fact, if it was not for the final act — specifically the conclusion — 6 Month Rule would have never scored more than a four in my book. Sure the film has some interesting characters — notably Sophie — but it is really difficult not to be incredibly annoyed by Tyler. There is also a cartoonish “hipster singer-songwriter” character, Julian (Patrick J. Adams), who warrants nothing more than primal hatred and disgust. But then I eventually realized that all of the negative reactions I was having to the characters of Tyler and Julian were pre-planned by writer-director Blayne Weaver. These are characters whom we are not supposed to like. Sophie is the only sympathetic one; she is the most positively portrayed, the strongest and the most human. I also think that is why I respect Weaver’s third act so much; it reveals that everything I disliked about 6 Month Rule for the first two acts was purposefully designed that way. I fell into Weaver’s trap, and he certainly deserves some kudos for luring me in.