Guest review by Sharon Geller
Published Wednesday, November 2, 2011, 10:06 PM
If you think a two-and-one-half hour exploration of G-d, philosophy, nature and the universe must be a drag, you are incorrect.
At least in terms of Lantern Theatre’s New Jerusalem, The Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza at Talmud Torah Congregation: Amsterdam, July 27, 1656, which is currently on stage at St. Stephen’s Theater at 10th and Ludlow Streets in Center City Philadelphia. You will be surprisingly both informed and entertained.
This dramatic play is written, surprisingly enough, by David Ives, who is best known for some wonderful comedic masterpieces, e.g., All in the Timing.
Audiences apparently are finding New Jerusalem sufficiently gripping to an extent that the Lantern has twice extended its run; its performances are currently scheduled to run through Saturday, November 12.
Beautifully directed by Charles McMahon, Sam Henderson portrays the engaging Baruch de Spinoza, the 17th-Century philosopher who marched to the beat of a different drummer, to say the least.
The atmosphere in Amsterdam during that time promoted qualified tolerance for the Sephardic Jewish community (i.e., Jews of Spanish-Portuguese descent) which had, a few generations prior, experienced the Inquisition and Expulsion in Spain. Nevertheless, when Sephardic Jews began arriving in Amsterdam and increasing in significant numbers, as well as openly practicing their faith, the city’s tolerant nature was eventually put to the test. While "tolerance" was a bit of a sham -- e.g., Jews had to agree not to practice Jewish rituals publicly -- the Jews were still allowed to live side-by-side with Christians as long as they remained silent and did not rock the boat.
Henderson does a superb job of embodying Spinoza, the enlightened thinker who presented some very challenging ideas within the larger Dutch community.
Seth Reichgott, a consistently strong actor, hits a home run in his portrayal of Abraham van Valkenburgh, the bigoted prosecutor who is hell-bent on making sure that Spinoza is punished through “cherem,” total excommunication from the Jewish community.
It is worth noting that both the non-Jews, especially Reichgott's character, and the Jews, especially the Rabbi (played by David Bardeen) and his right-hand man, were persecuting Spinoza in different ways. Valkenburgh was convinced that Spinoza did not believe in G-d and was discussing religion and G-d with non-Jews, which was forbidden. The Rabbi worried that Spinoza's "blasphemous" statements could result in expelling all of the Jews if he spoke up too much; the Rabbi felt it was his responsibility to secure the safety of his Jewish community, even if it meant buying silence as a price.
The strong cast features compelling performances by Bardeen as the Rabbi; David Blatt as a synagogue member; Jake Blouch as Baruch’s fair-weather friend; Mary Tuomanen as Baruch’s gentile girlfriend; and Kittson O’Neill as Baruch’s sister.
I am not quite sure how a a 150-minute theatre experience about such complex issues as metaphysical matters, God, atheism and nature became so compelling, but this fine cast and director certainly made it so.
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