Theater Review: Touching 'Asher Lev' needs more depth at FST

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Ben Rosenbach, right, plays the title character, with Naama Potok and Nathan Kaufman as his parents in Florida Studio Theatre's "My Name is Asher Lev," based on the novel by Chaim Potok. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FST

Ben Rosenbach, right, plays the title character, with Naama Potok and Nathan Kaufman as his parents in Florida Studio Theatre's "My Name is Asher Lev," based on the novel by Chaim Potok. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FST

Chaim Potok’s novel “My Name is Asher Lev,” about a young Hasidic Jewish man following his destiny as an artist who challenges traditions and faith, has won legions of fans since it was published more than 40 years ago.

It is a powerful story about how Asher Lev’s desires and innate gifts go against his parents plan that he will follow his father as an emissary for the Hasidic community around the world. Instead, Asher will unintentionally upend his conservative Jewish community in Brooklyn by expressing his feelings and thoughts in paintings that go against everything his family has taught him.

Some of the power is evident in Florida Studio Theatre’s new production of the stage version adapted by Aaron Posner. The production works more on the intellect than on the heart. We understand Asher’s struggles with his parents, how they relent to let him learn how to develop his gifts and how his work inevitably seems to work against them. But we don’t necessarily feel Asher’s pain or anguish. We get it on a surface level in the sometimes engaging performance of Ben Rosenbach, whose performance as Asher doesn’t change much or develop in different stages of his life.

Bringing a novel to life on stage

Ben Rosenbach as young artist Asher Lev and Nathan Kaufman as his mentor in a scene from Florida Studio Theatre's "My Name is Asher Lev." PHOTO PROVIDED BY FST

Ben Rosenbach as young artist Asher Lev and Nathan Kaufman as his mentor in a scene from Florida Studio Theatre's "My Name is Asher Lev." PHOTO PROVIDED BY FST

It’s a memory play that begins in the 1950s, though the minimalist set by Bruce Price and costumes by Donna Riggs have a welcome timeless quality to them in director Jason Cannon’s production.

Asher recalls moments from when he was six and first started drawing pictures and his mother wonders why he doesn’t draw more beautiful things like blue skies and pretty birds. Even at that early age, he displays a deeper connection to art than most children. But Rosenbach seems to be playing the same person no matter what age Asher is in the story, presumably the adult Asher looking back.

What emotion we do feel comes from the actors playing his parents, Nathan Kaufman as Aryeh, the emotionally distant but caring father trying to find a way to connect to his son, and the moving Naama Potok, who puts a lot of heart and soul into her performance as Asher’s mother, Rivkeh. We see many layers in her face, especially her love and respect even through pain and disappointment.

Ben Rosenbach as the young artist Asher Lev and Naama Potok as his mother in Florida Studio Theatre's production of "My Name is Asher Lev." PHOTO PROVIDED BY FST

Ben Rosenbach as the young artist Asher Lev and Naama Potok as his mother in Florida Studio Theatre's production of "My Name is Asher Lev." PHOTO PROVIDED BY FST

They both also play other characters, notably Kaufman’s role as Asher’s painting mentor Jacob Kahn, who is inspired by the growth his protege displays under his almost subversive encouragement. It is Jacob who presses Asher to always paint what he sees and feels and not to bend because of what others may think.

Cannon and his cast keep the story flowing freely through the years. Potok and Kaufman are always silent observers on the sidelines if one of their characters isn’t in a scene.

They all keep us involved and thinking, but the play and story have the potential to do even more to inspire and move the audience.

THEATER REVIEW
"MY NAME IS ASHER LEV"
By Aaron Posner, adapted from the play by Chaim Potok. Directed by Jason Cannon. Reviewed March 13 at Florida Studio Theatre's Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Through March 27. 941-366-9000; floridastudiotheatre.org

trong>THEATER REVIEW

"MY NAME IS ASHER LEV"

By Aaron Posner, adapted from the play by Chaim Potok. Directed by Jason Cannon. Reviewed March 13 at Florida Studio Theatre's Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Through March 27. 941-366-9000; floridastudiotheatre.org

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Jay Handelman

Jay Handelman is the theater and television critic for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where he has worked since 1984. He also is President of the Foundation of the American Theatre Critics Association and a two-time past chairman of the association's executive committee. He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4931. Follow him at @jayhandelman on Twitter. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.
Last modified: March 23, 2016
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