Jerusalem Khan Theater Stages "Wandering Stars" in Tribute to Late Designer
The Jerusalem Khan Theater has dedicated its new production of "Wandering Stars," based on Sholem Aleichem's novel, to the memory of acclaimed Israeli stage designer Sasha Lisansky, who passed away in April. Lisansky was slated to design this production, and the current staging leaves one to wonder how he might have approached the set design differently. The play follows the story of Leibl and Raisl, two young people who fall in love with each other and then with the theater, eventually running away with a troupe. Their paths diverge as Leibl becomes the famous actor Leo Rafalesco and Raisl becomes the singer Rosa Spivak. They travel across Europe and America, building careers and changing identities, but always moving towards each other.
A notable aspect of the Khan's production is the contrast between the dynamic title and the static set design. Video art by Vitaly Friedland provides visual dynamism, displaying images of cities and "shtetl-chic" motifs. However, director Yoram Gutal intentionally uses static settings like dressing rooms and backstage areas, offering little visual equivalent to the characters' constant movement. The set consists mainly of a backdrop serving as a screen and minimal furniture. This choice reflects the novel's theme of the theater becoming the characters' true home, with the dressing room remaining a constant amidst changing surroundings.
This interpretation seems influenced by Richard Nelson's adaptation, which shifts from Sholem Aleichem's more carnival-like style to a psychological, Chekhovian approach. The adaptation emphasizes that while cities and people change, the characters remain confined to similar dressing rooms, suggesting their journeys are measured by age and experience rather than distance. A casting issue arises with Itay Shor playing Leibl, who is meant to be a 14-year-old at the start. Shor, who is 40, struggles to convincingly portray a teenage boy in the early scenes, creating a noticeable disconnect. Anna Pugach, playing Raisl, is a more natural fit, being younger and possessing a pleasant voice.
The production incorporates Yiddish songs unrelated to the plot, which elicited strong reactions from the predominantly elderly audience. The review suggests the Khan's staging relies on recognizable markers like Yiddish, fiddles, and nostalgic "shtetl" elements to appeal to a nostalgic audience, rather than exploring the novel's deeper themes. "Wandering Stars" is described as a story about the consuming passion for the stage, how theater reshapes lives, and the profound personal transformations it demands, a magic that the reviewer feels is missing from this production.
