Cappie review of “Awake and Sing!” by Jason Dietz, South Lakes High School, Reston, VA

Arena Stage has done it again with their newest performance, Awake and Sing!. Awake and Sing! is a stirring masterpiece of confrontation and catharsis. Set in the midst of the Great Depression, the performance takes place inside a typical Jewish family household. Dysfunction and depression reign supreme in this dramatic portrayal of the harsh realities of life during the early 1930s.

The performance revolves around the lives of the Berger family. It is the story of youthful Ralph Berger, of tenacious Hennie Berger, of smooth Moe Axelrod, of slick Uncle Morty, of wise Jacob Berger, of worrisome Bessie Berger, of passive Myron Berger, of devoted Sam Feinschreiber, and of gruff Schlosser. Together, their depressing lives and broken spirits eventually collapse and coalesce into a moving explosion of emotional cleansing.

The portrayal of the characters by the actors was absolutely superb, and was only surpassed by the chemistry of the entire cast. The characters were so believable that the audience could not only observe them, but also interact with them in a way. Robert Prosky especially captured and held the audience’s attention effortlessly. Miriam Silverman did a fantastic job portraying and conveying her emotions with body language. Adam Dannheisser seamlessly transitioned between Moe’s nonchalant personality and his rising passion for Hennie. Adam Green’s youthful energy and spirit were wondrous to behold, and his level of hope and aspiration was inspiring. Jana Robbins had just the right amount of edge to be both maternal and paternal; after all she is “both the mother and father of the family.” There were also extremely good performances by Steve Routman, Brian Reddy, Richard Canzano, and Hugh Nees.

Like every great performance, the actors were complemented by a stellar technical job. The set was both accurate and elaborate, giving an authentic yet elegant air to the performance. The use of a curtain to effectively join and separate two rooms onstage was ingenious. The lighting was never too bright or to dim, and always on cue, as was the sound. The microphones were excellently handled, as the actors could be heard clearly all throughout the performance. Every aspect of the actors’ costumes correlated to the time period right down to their socks and shoes. The director, Zelda Fichandler, has done a tremendous job laying out the movements for the play, and her attention to detail is positively astounding.

However, compliments must also be given to the writer of the play, Clifford Odets. Odets’ Awake and Sing! is dramatic, entertaining, and above all, genuine. The characters are easy to relate to, and the portrayal of life in New York during the Depression is right on. Overall, Clifford Odets’ Awake and Sing! in the Kreeger Theater at Arena Stage is a stunning masterwork that is spectacularly written, directed, and performed.