CurtainUp
CurtainUp
The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features, Annotated Listings
HOME PAGE

SITE GUIDE

SEARCH


REVIEWS

REVIEW ARCHIVES

ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP

FEATURES

NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings


LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway

NYC Restaurants

BOOKS and CDs

OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
DC
Philadelphia
Elsewhere

QUOTES

TKTS

PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS

LETTERS TO EDITOR

FILM

LINKS

MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
A CurtainUp Review
One of a Kind


My grandmother, Nana would say that a dream is a place far away, which is possible to see from here. And I never asked her if we dream about what only happens in the future or if it is possible to dream about what happened in the past.—AndArgay
Nobody is really certain where the Ethiopian Jews came from. Christian Ethiopian tradition claims they are all descended from Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, while the Ethiopian Jews claim to be descended from Moses or the tribes of Judah or Levi. Certainly there were Jewish settlements on both sides of the Red Sea as far back as 2,500 years ago, as can be attested by archeological remains and the fact that some Abyssinian words pertaining to religion are of Hebrew origin. Yet little was known about these Jews until the 1970s when some 120,000 Jews began emigrating from Ethiopia to Israel, first with Operation Moses, then Operation Solomon.

Many of these Ethiopian Jews had dreamed for generations of returning to Israel. But despite famine, disease and growing anti-Semitism, they were fearful and reluctant to leave. In One of a Kind, AndArgay (now Yossi Vassa) tells the true story of how he and his family left their home in Ethiopia, journeyed by foot the 440 miles to refugee camps in Sudan and waited, starving and helpless until they were finally flown to Israel. He wrote the play with Israeli actor and television TV writer Shai Ben Attar, who also directs.

Originally produced by Nephesh Theatre, for the Haifa International Children's Theatre Festival in 2005, the show is now making its U.S. premiere, in English at the New Victory Theater. Vassa plays himself as a ten-year-old boy who likes to draw but isn't very fond of school where he is singled out as foreign and Jewish. He lives with his father, Asmamo (Shai Fredo), his mother, Masi (Mahareta Baruch), his older sister, Yeshitu (Sky Gete) and his beloved grandmother (Tehitina Assefa). Set designer Alexander Sasha Lesansky artfully and impressionistically creates their home with wooden logs and lights.

Yeshitu wants to marry Isaac (Roy Zaddok), but Isaac has heard about Operation Moses and is determined to go to Israel. Asmano resists. He's tried this before, and it ended only in sorrow. But Grandmother wants to see Eretz Israel before she dies and convinces the family to put its trust in God.

Told through the eyes of AndArgay, a charming and creative child, One of a Kind incorporates music, dance and video. But what is most fascinating is the way it melds Jewish and African traditions of family, song, dance and storytelling. And it does all this in a way that is always accessible to children. (Ages 10 and up recommended).

If the play doesn't delve too deeply into complex emotional states, politics or the causes and effects of anti-Semitism, it is certainly filled with compassion and humor, and it has enough substance to keep adults engaged. In other words One of a Kind is perfect family entertainment.



ONE OF A KIND
By Yossi Vassa and Shai Ben Attar
Directed by Shai Ben Attar
Cast: Yossi Vassa (AndArgay), Tehitina Asssefa (Grandmother), Mahareta Baruch (Masi), Shai Fredo (Asmamo), Benny Gatahon (The Teacher/Case Pakudu), Sky Gete (Yeshitu), Roy Zaddok (Isaac)
Set Designer: Alexander Sasha Lesansky
Costume Designer: Sky Gete
Lighting Technician: Liad Malone
Sound Technician: Oded Weinstock
Running Time: 1 hour
Presented by Nephesh Theatre
The New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd St., 646-223-3010 or NewVictory.org
From 5/2/08 through 5/11/08
Tickets: $12.50 to $35
Reviewed by Paulanne Simmons May 2, 2008
REVIEW FEEDBACK
Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
  • I agree with the review of One of a Kind
  • I disagree with the review of One of a Kind
  • The review made me eager to see One of a Kind
Click on the address link E-mail: esommer@curtainup.com
Paste the highlighted text into the subject line (CTRL+ V):

Feel free to add detailed comments in the body of the email.

Try onlineseats.com for great seats to
Wicked
Jersey Boys
The Little Mermaid
Lion King
Shrek The Musical


Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide
Leonard Maltin's 2008 Movie Guide


broadwaynewyork.com


amazon




©Copyright 2008,

GUCCI

|

Aluminium Chronograph

|

PEAK new fashion ladies venting air spring heighten casual sport shoes P8004E

|

Tiffany & Co Hook and Eye Ring

|

mbt shoes

|

MBT Shoes

|

Tiffany&Co Daisy 925 sterling silver rings

|

Rolex

|

Louis Vuitton

|

Affliction Boots

|

Nike Shoes

|

Nike Dunk

|

MP5 Wholesale

|

Atlanta Falcons

|

Abercrombie Pants Wholesale 002

|

Louis Vuitton

|

UGG Boots Mulberry Genuine Australia classic Tall Ugg Boots

|

GUCCI Handbags

|

UGG Boots Classic Argyle Knit Chocolate 5879

|

Louis Vuitton Business Card Holder Ebony

|

MBT Men's Kisumu Tan Sandals

|

MBT Chapa

|

ugg boots

|

MBT Kisumu 2 White Men's Sandals

|

Nike Shoes

|

Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim Messenger Bag PM m95865

|

Bailey Button Uggs

|

Sexy Costume QS0169

|

Phone Wholesale

|

Bikinis Sets

|

Wholesale

|

Car DVD Player

|

LV

|

Tourbillon

|

Tiffany tiffany replica ring

|

Superleggera J12 White

|

Tiffany

|

rolex

|

Mouse Wholesale

|

Nike Air Max 2003

|

Monogram Groom

|

GUCCI

|

Wholesale

|

Nike Air Max LTD (dark blue/white) No.372340

Elyse Sommer.
Information from this site may not be reproduced in print or online without specific permission from esommer@curtainup.com