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Underneath the Lintel:
An Impressive Presentation
By Glen Berger
Directed by Kristine Thatcher
Produced by City Lit Theater
In association with BoarsHead Theatre
And CRM Productions
At City Lit Theater
1020 W. Bryn Mawr
Chicago, IL
Call 773-293-3682, tickets $25
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time 85 minutes without intermission
Through April 20, 2008
Michael Joseph Mitchell is riveting as the Dutch librarian
The Chicago premiere of Glen Berger’s acclaimed Underneath the Lintel: An Impressive presentation of Lovely Evidence is a most worthy theatrical experience. Michael Joseph Mitchell’s one man show is ambitious, intelligent and thought provoking. Mitchell works hard to tell the story of the myth of the wondering Jew. It unfolds as a mystery that grabs us and keeps us engaged throughout the 85 minutes.
Mitchell plays a Dutch librarian assigned to collect books from the night drop-off box. He has been doing library work for more than twenty years. In 1986, he discovered an old beat-up travel book that was 113 years over due. Being a diligent employee, the Dutchman begins an investigation to see if he can find those responsible in order to collect the fine. This wryly humorous guy is a likable, nerdy type who slowly becomes obsessed with the adventure of what he finds. This mystery contains photos and parchments which start a trail that finds the Dutch librarian traveling around the world as small physical evidence slowly unfolds into a pattern that moves from 1873 backward to the 14th Century back as far as 36AD where the myth began.
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At that time, there was a Jewish shoemaker, Zebrina, who went out under his lintel to observe a line of criminals carrying crosses on their way to their being crucified. One criminal fell near the shoemaker under his lintel and asked for his help. When the Roman guards told the shoemaker to stop helping the criminal, he pushed him from under his lintel toward the Romans. The criminal spoke a curse to the Jew: he would doomed to wander the world until the Second Coming of the Messiah. He would also never be able to rest (or even sit down) and he could not ever identify himself to anyone. The Dutchman grew to conclude that the person he was looking for was trying indirectly to leave clues about himself. Glen Berger’s script is detailed, plausible and clever. Mitchell aptly unfolds this mystery as it became a personal search for the Dutchman’s own life’s purpose.
I enjoyed this production as Mitchell lets it all out on stage as he personalizes the Dutchman’s obsession with finding the wondering Jew. The power of a one man show is intoxicating. Is there actually a “real” wandering Jew? You be the judge.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date reviewed: March 23, 2008
Jeff Recommended
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