Press Reviews
"The most exciting Jewish storytelling in the world." - Edinburgh Telegraph
"The Stories are a Pleasure to Hear, Mr Reichlin is a pleasure to Behold" - New York Times
"Astonishing, Hilarious, a Towering Performance" - London Evening Standard, Critics' Choice
"Nostalgic... versatile... expressive." - The New Yorker
"Loving, entertaining... it's most infectious" - Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
"Entrancing... captivates the audience." - New York Jewish Week |
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Saul Reichlin in
Roots... Shmoots!
Stories by Sholom Aleichem - The acclaimed dramatisation of the stories that inspired "Fiddler On The Roof". Featuring the tale Gimpel the Fool by Nobel Prize Winner, Isaac Bashevis Singer.
We hope you will be as intrigued and charmed by the idea of these two superb pieces of Jewish literary and dramatic art as we are. Saul Reichlin's new adaptation of the ever popular Sholom Aleichem, ROOTS... SHMOOTS! and its companion piece, IB Singer's GIMPEL THE FOOL.
The first half of the show is the return of Saul's Reichlin in his acclaimed dramatisations of the stories of the adored Sholom Aleichem. In his celebrated telling of these funny, touching, forever optimistic tales of yesterday, Saul entices us back to what one critic referred to as a 'lost world of poverty, foolishness, misfortune, and the love of life'. After his world premiere hosted by Pieter Toerien in 2000, his first show, NOW YOU'RE TALKING! totally sold out its London UK Premiere, and has since toured 35 cities in 7 countries, including Off Broadway.
The second half of the evening, 'GIMPEL THE FOOL', is the masterpiece by Isaac Bashevis Singer, which led to his Nobel Prize for Literature. East European theatre at its finest, this is human comedy, saturated in the passions of life, an indelible tale of blazing imagination, a battle ground of the wicked, the grotesque, of simple faith and the elusive truth. We can think of no more natural interpreter of this special work than the 'Brilliant and Flawless' (Edinburgh Telegraph) exponent of Sholom Aleichem, Saul Reichlin. It is brought to the English speaking world by the powerful translation of Nobel Prize Laureate, Saul Bellow.
We are sure no-one will want to miss this most special double bill, one which resonates so strongly within the Jewish community. Saul tells us that one Rabbi (they are richly represented in both shows) actually brought 25 of his congregation to a performance, said he had not laughed so much in 25 years, and insisted on being photographed with Saul on stage afterwards!
Production History
Saul's dramatization for the stage of the stories of Sholom Aleichem has been in production for 9 years, touring 35 cities in the U.K., U.S., Canada, Europe, and in South Africa. In January 2002, the production at the King's Head Theatre, London, was nominated for the U.K. Ethnic & Multi-Cultural Media award, EMMA. For his work with the production in schools, retirement homes, charities and many U.K. Jewish community centres, Saul received multiple nominations for the Jewish Chronicle newspaper award, in the category of theatre, for 'The artist contributing most to the Jewish Community in the U.K. in 2002'.
Please Note: There is no disabled access to the STUDIO Theatre. |