This past weekend marked the American premiere of the play The Rubenstein Kiss, which is currently being presented by CATCO at the Riffe Center. Inspired by the story of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed on a conviction of “conspiracy to commit espionage” during World War II, the play is an intense, emotional rollercoaster.
The Rubenstein Kiss is told over alternating stories—one that takes place 1942-1953, and one that takes place several years later in 1975. In the “past” story, we follow the characters of Esther and Jakob Rubenstein, and David and Rachel Girshfeld—what seems, at first, like a fairly standard family. However, there is clearly something going on that is referenced several times throughout the beginning of the play, but is never entirely spelled out, which brings a level of tension into the family. In the “present” portion of the story, we follow Matthew and Anna, two twenty-somethings who meet by chance at an art exhibit that features a photograph of the Rubensteins and shares the same name as the play. Matthew and Anna go on a journey in their portion of the play to find out the truth of the Rubensteins’ FBI arrest and trial for espionage.
The play could potentially be a difficult one to pull off, but the cast does a superb job of not going overboard in the dramatic scenes, but not blowing a single scene off either. Dealing with issues of family loyalty, the truth, and standing for what you believe is right or true are never easy, particularly in a story as emotional and intense as this one.
In the roles of Matthew and Anna respectively, Rudy Frias and Acacia Leigh Duncan are a delight to watch—they explore their entire emotional ranges with ease. Everything from happiness to sadness, from love to uncertainty, these two get to do it all. And they do. Kim Garrison Hopcraft and Kalafatic Poole play Esther and Jakob Rubenstein to absolute perfection. Hopcraft easily takes on the role of a woman desperately trying to keep the peace in her family, and Poole is exceptional in his portrayal of a man who will budge for no one. Geoffrey Martin and Julia Free play David and Rachel Girshfeld and it is their story in particular that is most interesting to watch the arc of—they are both incredibly convincing in their ability to show their respective characters’ change from devoted and loving in-laws to being desperate to save their own, immediate family. Finally, as Paul Cranmer, Joe Dallacqua shines in his limited amount of time on the stage—his ability to show the FBI investigator that progressively becomes more sympathetic to the Rubensteins is unbelievably convincing and amazing to watch.
The Rubenstein Kissis a play worth taking the time to see. You will be sent on an emotional, intense historical journey that you will be thinking of for days to come.
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