Audiences who enjoy children’s theater have a new addition to look forward to. Out of the Apple Orchard enjoyed its New York premier last week when it played at the Actor’s Temple Theater to children of all ages.
The play comes from the first book of a four-part children’s book collection, Apple Tree Series, written by award-winning author Yvonne David. Read more about these books on their website.
The production presented is adapted for the stage by Ellen W. Kaplan. Nicole Raphael of The Mesaper Theatre directs this production.
A story with several lessons taught is the centerpiece of this play. It is an enjoyable show to watch because of the story but also the manner in which it is told. Music is provided by a wonderful violin player (Victoria Chaieb) who injects spirited tunes into the story. There is puppetry with an adorable colorful bird which adds to the joy of the tale. Now add to this mix a very talented cast and you have a winning combination for a fabulous show!
The Story of Out of the Apple Orchard
Out of the Apple Orchard tells the story of a Jewish immigrant family who arrives in New York City in 1910 after they escape from Lithuania. They come in search of religious freedom but also seeking a new life with golden opportunities.
We see them move to their first home on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Although it is considered to be a vibrant area, it is also over-crowded. This causes the family to make the decision to move upstate to New York’s Catskill Mountains. They bring with them their business in which Papa specializes in making men’s garments.
At the same time, the Papa (Erik Endsley) takes ill. The fresh air of the mountains should be a good remedy for him. But, he becomes too sick to work so money to buy food becomes scarce. When he has a few close calls, the family goes into action. Mama (Lori Leifer) takes care of the children and the house and keeps encouraging everyone. The family’s Bubbe (Alyssa Simon) also encourages all.
Their son, Adam (Caleb Hafen) does what he can to help the family. His sister, Sarah (Emma Kantor) also pitches in to help out. One day, the hunger is getting to Adam. On his way to school, he spots a beautiful apple orchard and he takes some apples from the tree. The family is thrilled with receiving them and plan on making a cake for the up coming Rosh Hashanah celebration. However, once the Farmer (Ken Dillion) who owns the orchard realizes apples have been stolen, Adam is faced with having to confess his offense.
Lessons Learned
Part of the story involves Adam realizing he has made a mistake. He learns he has to correct his mistake and ask for forgiveness. This starts a new beginning for him and his family.
Happily, Papa recovers. And the family moves on to bring their clothing business to a new life in the Catskill Mountains.
However, the lessons of people caring for and forgiving each other come through beautifully in this show.
Final Thoughts
As an adult, I truly enjoyed seeing Out of the Apple Orchard. I would like to bring some children to see it. This was a wonderful show to see the week of Rosh Hashana but it would be enjoyable to see anytime of the year.
The stories and lessons learned by children as they are growing up is a feature of the play. Also, the love and connections of family are important to know.
Afsheen Misaghi and Atra Asdou. Premiere Stages 2023 production of Selling Kabul. Photo by Mike Peters.
Premiere Stages at Kean is now running the New Jersey Premiere of Selling Kabul. Written by Sylvia Khoury, the play runs through September 24 at the Bauer Boucher Theatre Center on the campus of Kean University, Union, NJ. With direction by Taylor Reynolds, the show is intense and thought provoking and it is one that will stay with you for a long time. If you are a person who values family, you may feel sadness as you watch what is going on to people and how it is splitting the citizens of Kabul apart. But this is one that should not be missed.
A big round of applause goes out to Premiere Stages as they provide several things which will help you gain even more from the experience of seeing the play. Their approach to including information and materials to theater goers helps add to the relevancy this play brings.
First, See the Display Boards in the Lobby
I suggest stopping first in the Boucher Theatre Lobby before you go in to see the show. There you will find beautifully constructed display boards which will give important background about the subject matter of the play. Here is one example with a very current quote (Aug. 2023) from the Associated Press about how many applicants are still waiting in the special immigrants visa program.
Photo by K. Nowosad
There are several other boards which have good information to read before you see the show.
Next, go in to See Selling Kabul
Basically, Selling Kabul is about people trying to survive in an environment they did not choose to be in. The characters and events in Selling Kabul are fictional. However, the major elements of the story are rooted in truth. This story takes place in 2013 when the U.S. troops had withdrawn. However, there was a promise made to those Afghan citizens who worked with the U.S. that they would be taken care of. Some were. However, others, like Taroon, have not and they are still waiting.
Taroon (Zaven Ovian) lives in fear for his life. The Taliban are hunting for him as they consider him to be an enemy of their regime. His crime: he worked as an interpreter for the United States military in Afghanistan. While he is waiting for proper paper and arrangements to be made, he hides in his sister, Afya (Atra Asdou), and brother-in-law Jawid’s (Afsheen Misaghi) apartment. He must stay hidden from the windows and cannot even play the large screen television set for fear the light will be seen out the window. Meanwhile, Afiya and Jawid made the difficult decision to work with the Taliban by supplying them with uniforms.
A neighbor down the hall, Leyla (Anat Cogan) keeps dropping in unexpectedly. Even though they are friends, the family has kept Taroon hidden from her.
Zaven Ovian. plays Taroon, Photo by Mike Peters.
The play opens on the night that Taroon’s wife has given birth to their son. She is in the hospital and he is determined to get to see her. Thus develops the major conflict that eventually leads to his leaving Kabul for an uncertain future.
More Information Provides Another Aspect of Relevance
After seeing this play, you may wonder what you can do to help out. Premiere Stages at Kean provides an impressive list of sources to help answer that question. So take time to look inside the program/playbill provided. On page 6 you will find some resources that will help you learn about ways you can help people around the world as they seek refuge.
Post Show Community Connections
Audience members can engage more deeply with this deeply moving play by attending the free Community Connections following select matinee performances. Two have already been held but one remains after the Saturday, September 23 matinee. This presentation will have the cast of Selling Kabul as the speakers. Previous post-show presentations featured Director Taylor Reynolds and representatives from non-profit organizations that assist Afghan refugees in New Jersey.
Tickets and More Information about Selling Kabul
This is a must see show for anyone who recognizes the need to gain more understanding of tense situations in our world. It might not be a good selection for very young children, but other than that, this is a relevant play for everyone.
Selling Kabul runs September 7 – September 24 in the Bauer Boucher Theatre Center. This is located on the Kean University main campus, Union, NJ.
Performances take place Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.
Reasonable rates for tickets are available through calling the Box Office at 908-737-7469 or going to the Premiere Stages website at premierestagesatkean.com.
James Pickens Jr. and Richard Kind in A Tailor Near Me Photo by Andrea Phox
By Mary Ann Bourbeau
LONG BRANCH – Small regional theaters have always struggled to stay afloat, and that struggle became even greater when the Covid pandemic shuttered them, often for a year or more. Many nonprofit theaters are running at a loss, with audiences dwindling and government aid slashed, forcing some venues to reduce the number of shows produced each season, shorten the length of a show’s run or lay off staff members. In the most drastic cases, theaters have shut down completely.
Yet the New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch, which develops and produces six new plays each year, has managed not only to survive for more than a quarter century, but is being hailed as a crucial part of the planned redevelopment and cultural renaissance of Long Branch’s lower Broadway area.
“It’s been very challenging,” said Gabor Barabas, who along with his wife SuzAnne, founded the company in 1997. “Running a nonprofit theater is not for the faint of heart. So many theaters are faltering and closing. It’s been coming for a long time, and Covid just accelerated it. The business model for a regional theater is no longer tenable. American theater is imploding before our eyes. Yet we have a play that is selling out.” That play is “A Tailor Near Me.” Not only is it selling out, but due to popular demand, the run has been extended an additional week through September 3.
“A Tailor Near Me” – A World Premiere Comedy
“A Tailor Near Me” stars Richard Kind (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mad About You, Spin City) and James Pickens Jr. (Grey’s Anatomy, The X-Files, Roseanne).
In this world premiere comedy, written by Michael Tucker (L.A. Law), a man goes to a tailor to have his suit pants let out. The tailor convinces him that he needs a new suit, which leads to not only the making of a new suit but alterations in both of their lives. Direction of “A Tailor Near Me” is by James Glossman.
“The thought of doing a two-character play was intriguing to me,” said Pickens. “I hadn’t done it before, and it was a real challenge. When I read Michael Tucker’s script, it was a delightful examination of men and relationships, of love and commonality. The play is about the things we share more than the things that keep us apart. It’s got a lot of heart and introspection.”
Pickens was also drawn in by the chance to work with Richard Kind.
“I’ve been a fan of his for a long time,” he said. “He’s a real piece of work; totally committed to his craft. You can just tell that he loves what he does. He knows theater and what it takes to make a play successful. It’s a real learning experience watching him work.”
Kind was familiar with NJRep because of his friendship with actor Dan Lauria, who has performed at the theater numerous times over the years.
“I admire Dan for his love of regional theater and original plays, two things that I support,” said Kind.
Kind went on to explain his admiration for regional theaters such as NJRep and why it’s important for the community to support these venues.
“My dad was a jeweler,” he said. “I know that some people look for the crown jewels, the biggest and flashiest ones, but often the prettiest gems are small and perfect, simple and beautiful, not in an in-your-face kind of way. NJRep is a gem that people should be coming to. You never know when something great is going to be created in this unassuming theater. Some plays will be good, some great and some astounding. It’s like going to a restaurant – sometimes the food is really good and sometimes it’s not as good, but it’s tasty and full of nourishment. Theater is a wonderful place to go and sit for a short while and be uplifted. It elevates you and enlightens the community.”
NJRep Continues its Mission to Develop and Produce New Plays
Over the years, NJRep has produced three of Michael Tucker’s plays. Tucker and his wife, Emmy nominated actress Jill Eikenberry (L.A. Law), have appeared separately and together in Tucker’s plays at the theater. The Barabas’ are thrilled that the theater’s stature has grown to the point of having actors such as Pickens and Kind not only perform Tucker’s work but offer to extend the run.
“It’s remarkable that two actors of their caliber are at our theater bringing this wonderful play to life,” said Gabor.
Gabor and SuzAnne Barabas met as teenagers and married at a young age in Brooklyn. She was pursuing a career in theater, and when they moved to Cincinnati, where he entered medical school, she opened a theater there. They later moved to Philadelphia, where they started another theater. In 1997, the couple had the opportunity to relocate to an old industrial building in Long Branch where they would be part of an effort to revitalize the community.
“The original donors who gave us the building wanted to better the community,” said Gabor. “In our neighborhood 25 years ago, we were the only business open at night. There were 30 buildings around us boarded up and no foot traffic.”
The couple decided to produce only new plays to distinguish the theater’s focus from what others were presenting.
“We both love theater, and living in New York inspired us,” said Gabor. “We are enthusiastic and enamored with established plays, but we want to contribute to the repertoire of the American stage and produce the classics of tomorrow.”
NJRep’s Growth
Their very first play was called “Ends” written by David Alex.
“We didn’t fully realize the irony of that,” said Barabas. “Our first three or four years were highly challenging. It could have spelled the end for us. But 300 of the plays we gave birth to have been done all around the country and overseas. Theater is bigger than our walls.”
Those walls now include a 65-seat main stage and a 50-seat studio theater on lower Broadway along with the nearby West End Arts Center, which has an art gallery and four small theaters including a flexible 100-seat venue. In the past year, they have hosted stand-up comedy events, jazz concerts and poetry readings there. They plan to add additional venues as well as a cultural center.
“It’s going to be a large transformation of the community around us,” said Gabor. “We intend to run both locations and expand programming for children and families, essentially inspiring the next generation of theatergoers.”
Gabor Barabas, now retired after a 30-year career as a pediatric neurologist, has devoted himself entirely to developing theater and is excited to be part of the renaissance of the up-and-coming Long Branch arts district.
Next Up: “Welcome to Matteson!”
Next up at the New Jersey Repertory Company is “Welcome to Matteson!” a dark comedy by Inda Craig-Galván. The plot involves two African American couples and their journey through the social constraints of classism, economics and discrimination as they host a welcome-to-the-neighborhood dinner party for their new neighbors who have relocated from Chicago’s roughest housing project. The play exposes reverse gentrification and how people deal with the “other” when the other looks just like them.
“It’s a beautiful, four-character play and a remarkable exploration of what happens to these people under those circumstances,” said Gabor.
“Welcome to Matteson!” runs from September 28 to October 29. Tickets are $45 for students and $65 (or $60 early bird) for adults. For more information visit www.njrep.org.
Thanks to Mary Ann Bourbeau for this article. Mary Ann has won multiple awards from the New Jersey Press Association. She spent 14 years writing for daily newspapers and for the past decade has been an arts and entertainment freelancer for various publications.
