God of Vengeance
Presented by the Yiddish Theatre Ensemble on March 20-23

Produced by Laura Sheppard

Cosponsored by Mechanics' Institute

ABOUT

Surrounded by controversy (the first Broadway production was closed down for portraying unconventional characters and the first lesbian kiss on Broadway), this play was the inspiration for the recent award-winning Broadway show, Indecent. Yiddish Theatre Ensemble offers audiences the rare opportunity to experience the original play (in English) online for the first time!

Although the original script was set in turn-of-the-20th century Poland, this adaptation is set in New York’s Lower East Side circa 1930 bringing it closer to the American experience. The multi-cultural, multi-generational and diverse LGBTQ cast of 17 come from the Bay Area and across the country and includes veteran of stage Naomi Newman, co-founder of the Traveling Jewish Theater. Due to COVID-19 restrictions actors were filmed in character and full costume from their homes on Zoom.

Producer Laura Sheppard is Director of Events at Mechanics’ Institute.

Images courtesy Yiddish Theatre Ensemble

THE PLAY / Video Adaptation

God of Vengeance tells the story of a seemingly observant Jewish couple and their daughter Rivkeleh who live upstairs in their Lower East Side apartment during the Great Depression. Yankl and Soreh do their best to protect their only child from mixing with their bustling livelihood---a thriving 'brothel' business downstairs in the basement. Rivkeleh is at a marriageable age and plans for a future husband are being made. She is ensured an attractive dowry when her father commissions a sacred Torah scroll, worth thousands, to be written just for her. Supposedly, the hand-written scroll is believed to protect her and keep her kosher. Meanwhile, young Rivkeleh has fallen in love with Mankeh, one of his prostitutes, and a tender relationship blossoms. Tensions mount as life upstairs and downstairs becomes entangled. As Yankl’s plans are threatened, he begins to unravel.

CAST

Leads: Roni Alperin -Yankl | Jill Eickmann - Soreh | Elena Faverio - Rivkeleh | Zissel Piazza - Mankeh | Simon Winheld - Shlomo | Esther Mulligan - Hindl | Naomi Newman - Reb Eli | Josiah Prosser - A Scribe | Rebekah Kouy-Ghadosh - Basha | Frances Sedayao - Rayzel Ensemble: Linda Ayres-Frederick - Old Blind Woman | Heather Klein - The Chanteuse | Denise Hingle | Gilberto Melendez |Merle Nadlin | Leni Siegel | Randall Solomon

SUPPORT

The project is fiscally sponsored by KlezCalifornia and funded in part by a Civic Arts Grant from the City of Berkeley. The production is cosponsored by the Yiddish Book Center and the Year of Translation.

To watch the 2 minute preview, see cast photos and the list of cosponsors, click here.

To purchase tickets, click here.