My Name Is Asher Lev
My Name Is Asher Lev is on stage now through March 15.
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Philadelphia, PA 19106
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If you get the opportunity, go to see MY NAME IS ASHER LEV at The Arden Theatre. I attended last Saturday night, and in my opinion it’s a wonderful script, beautifully done in every way. It’s about a Jewish boy with a gift for drawing, and his struggle to become an artist. But its interest for playwrights is the way it seamlessly and effectively combines dramatic writing with narrative, and the very physical style it uses to keep an audience involved at every moment of the play. If you see it, note how the narrative parts are always combined with physical movement, and how abrupt the transitions are between narrative and dramatic scenes. It almost seemed to me that there were no wasted moments or lines. I did get a little impatient, for a very few moments, with the obtuseness of the father character in understanding his son’s art and talent–only once did the father look at a drawing and notice its beauty. And I did get a little tired of some declarations about the meaning of art and the artist–but those moments were fleeting–for ninety eight percent of the play, I was fully engaged. One other thing worth noting–the play is done without a single drawing in sight, as far as I could see–nothing but blank paper and lighted walls and picture frames–but that left Asher Lev’s genius to the imagination of the audience–right where it belongs. For those playwrights looking for ways to handle narrative in a play, this is a valuable example–go see it!!
My wife and I have been subcribers for years and this is our favorite performance. I have been telling everyone how good it is. Thank you so much for a wonderful theatre experience. The lead actor’s performance was especially good.
This is the best play we have ever seen at the Arden and probably in Philadelphia. Thank you so much.
We thought the play was unbelievably good; it left us shaking our heads in amazement. Wonderful story, and incredible acting.
Saw My Name is Asher Lev and it was AWESOME! I gave it a standing ovation and couldn’t understand why everyone wasn’t on their feet! My husband said he was still so absorbed in the story that he didn’t think to get up.
Adam, Karl and Gabra were all excellent in all their roles. I am just amazed that Karl could memorize all his dialogue and deliver it with such passion. Please pass along my congratulations to all of them and a loud BRAVO!
We have been subscribers for many years now and have never seen a show that was anything other than excellent. You are the best in everything you produce and after I send this I will definitely sign up to give you my “Leap of Faith” again for next year.
– Sharon and Preston
I just would like to say thank you for this incredible experience. I just got back from seeing ‘My name is Asher Lev’ with my mother and husband, and we all left with full hearts. Go and see this play, it will stay with you!
Thank you thank you thank you for a rich, stirring, beautiful theater experience. I can’t stop talking about My Name Is Asher Lev!
I have been a subscriber for more than 10 years. This was one of the best plays I have ever seen. It was so powerful and universal in message. The cast was magnificent. Aaron Posner’s adaptation was true to the story line and as magical as Chaim Potok’s own words.
The play My Name is Asher Lev was very eye-opening for me. This show is all about losing some of yourself to become more of yourself. The meaning of the show to me was very paradoxical. I saw that without fighting yourself you can never truly face yourself. Asher had to fight the lingering haze of tradition to transcend with his individuality intact but in a different way. Asher and his father always quarreled about Asher’s painting and drawings being foolishness and a waste of time. Asher’s father wanted Asher to be the typical Jewish young man who grows to serve the Jewish community. Asher on the other hand wanted much more out of life; he wanted to express himself through art. He underwent the pains of acceptance and disapproval all while truly learning himself as a person. In the end he saw who he truly was. Though his father discredited his art he never once said Asher I no longer love you as a son. This show was all around amazing and certain parts can bring tear to your eyes as well as others can make you laugh. In true and honest opinion as a teenager I give this show two thumbs up and three if I had a third. This show is a must-see!
Personally I am a young 17 year old male who was born in Africa but raised in Philadelphia. I somewhat have a Asher Levish dilemma. Yes I just came up with a name for the term of being torn in between two sides. I am a young actor and Dancer. My father totally approves of my career choices but my mother totally disapproves making my dreams harder to obtain. I love and respect my mother but the fact that what I want to do is far from her expectation of me career wise is difficult. I want to please her but in doing so I will lose myself. This somewhat correlates to what Asher went through with his father, but he came to a conclusion internally of what he wanted to do (as we saw at the end of the show).
Personally I will continue with my pursuit of my hopes and dreams with or without my mother’s “approval”. I know this sounds somewhat disrespectful but I mean it in the calmest of mannerisms. I received some great advice not to long ago from someone “saying it’s your life and no one can live it for you.” Allowing me from now on to show my mother my unconditional love for her because even if she doesn’t love my career choices she still loves me as a son and that’s all that truly matters.
Never thought I would be blogging … just had to share with everyone how special our evening became due to the powerful My Name is Asher Lev. The acting was superb; the staging that was sparse became full of drama, wit, light and purpose; and the story dynamic.
This is for anyone who:
Is Jewish … or not;
In love with the arts … or not;
Lost a Loved one … or not;
Wishes their relationship with a parent was closer … or not; Loves drama … or not;
Wants to walk away with more vision, insight, and caring then when they walked into the Arden.
Bravo, and bravo!!
amazing posts. Mind Telling how you get the info for blog posts. What more next to be posted.