Reviewed by Marie J. Kilker
As in the ur story, we find the young girl onstage being secretly taught by her father. When he dies, the 17-year-old talented scholar disguises herself as a boy and seeks out a place, granted to males only, to study the Talmud. She meets such a man, Avigdor, who gets her into his small Yeshiva. As study partners, they bond more than do most male best friends. He can tell her of his engagement to Hadass, broken when his brotherÕs suicideÑa disgrace on his familyÑis revealed; how Avigdor still loves her but is in acute sexual need. YentlÕs feelings for him (romantic love?) are so strong that she yearns to relieve his problems. Yet she cannot bring herself to tell him sheÕs what heÕs thought would be wonderful were it soÑa woman. They seek to solve their predicaments by Avigdor marrying a shop-owning widow and Yentl actually marrying Hadass! In a convoluted way, all will work out.
Though the plot is true to Singer, director Gordon Greenberg notably added a Klezmer rock band doing Jo SobuleÕs punk-rock-Jewish-folk music with an equal stylistic mix in lyrics. HeÕs been quoted as saying the ÔÔmusic helps excavate the raw sexuality and passionate emotion throughout.Ò Definitely not SingerÕs emphasis! And Greenberg thinks the result is Shakespearean (Could he be referring to cross-dressing, mistaken identities, and a comedicÑthat is, one happy-marriage-and-family conclusion?) or BrechtianÑwhich shows he doesnÕt have a clue about the essence of BrechtÕs epic theater. Greenberg may be thinking of the presentation of episodes linked or, in this case broken, by choral musical commentary. Brecht would have cringed at stressing romance and emotion. There is more emphasis in this production on the comic aspects of YentlÕs embarassment at seeing naked boys in a bath house or the mystery of her solving the predicament of deflowering Hadass on their wedding night than on how societal, religious, educational and economic factors caused the principal charactersÔ problems. As a Jewsploitation play with nudity, however, what Asolo Rep is presenting will probably be a big draw. Also memorable, as usual, will be creditable performances, especially by the winsome, never-waivering Hillary Clemens in the lead and Andrew CarterÕs likeable Avigdor, no matter his clutzy scholarship and lack of sexual discipline. As Hadass, pretty Gisela Chipe wisely balances naivety and ignorance with evidencing a capacity for true love. In the strong Ensemble, Ashley Scalion and Luke Bartholomew stand out as vocalists and townspeople. Real-life marrieds Howard Millman and Carolyn Michel blend well into similar roles here as well as varied minor characters, religious and secular.
ThereÕs an impressive full stage, top-to-bottom backdrop of a caged, stacked library full of Jewish religious books that presents a proper scenic metaphor. The only problem is itÕs not dynamic, something that could be said as well for the waning moments of the play. Tech artists who deserve recognition include set designer Brian Sidney Bembridge along with designers Mattie Ullrich, costumes; Paul Miller, lights. Josh RhodesÔ choreography worked in small, crowded side spaces as well as providing broader movement on the raised center-stage platform. Kelly A. Borgia stage-managed the mostly busy 2 hour, 15 minute production.