By Eric George Tauber
SAN DIEGO — “Who really understands whether or not they are happy?”
How do you know when you’ve found your bashert, the soulmate you were destined to share your life with? Some say you just know. But how do you find that one special person? Do you really have to share a common religion, culture or skin-tone? Nowadays, we have apps to help us sift through the wide plethora of choices. But with the rate of divorce, who’s to say that our modern sophistication is so much better?
Shmuli and Esther did it the traditional way. As Satmar Chasidim, their marriage was arranged. On their wedding night, they hardly know each other, and yet they’re expected to consummate. While sharing a mutual fondness, they’re so awkward that it’s sweet.
The Satmar Chasidic sect should not be confused with Chabad. Given the dress code, it’s easy to mix them up. But where Chabad reaches out, the Satmar keep themselves isolated. For example, they’re not likely to read this article because it wasn’t written by one of their own and –even worse- it’s online. Forbidden is that treyfe shondeh called “the internet.” Oy vey!
In such a strict world, they all have their little guilty pleasures such as listening to the radio. Shmuli’s romantic, poetic soul has found a home in actor Dave Klasko. He feels the spirit of Hashem not by shockeling in shul but in newly falling snow and listening to Brahms. And for this, he feels guilty.
Ali Rose Dachis as Esther is a smart, curious and feisty spirit. She has a mind of her own in spite of how she was raised, but the consequences of tasting forbidden fruit can be dire. I had chills as the hammer came down upon her, then admired her courage as she determined to rebuild her life.
Sophie: I’ll never understand why you’d want to raise our kids in a religion you hate.
Abe: Because that’s what Jews do.
Running parallel are Abe and Sophie, two modern, secular Jews. They’re both writers, but Abe is far more successful and Sophie is more than a little jealous. Daniel Eric Gold plays Abe with a nervous energy fueled by neuroses and sharpened by wit. He needs Sophie to ground him, but how much does Sophie really need him? Michelle Beck is strong and passionate as Sophie. She can feel her marriage slipping away, but she’s not without tricks up her sleeve.
Abe has a nervous schoolboy crush on a movie star with whom he maintains an online correspondence. But is he really smitten with her or the fantasy of her? Janie Brookshire reminded me of Julia Roberts in Knotting Hill. She’s tall and lovely like a movie star, yet still humorous and easygoing enough to be relatable.
Playwright Anna Ziegler imbues The Wanderers with the sweetness and humor of a romantic comedy and the heartbreak of a tragedy. Souls are bound together, rent in twain and then struggle to rebuild shattered lives. And it all happens in the space of 100 minutes. The Wanderers is playing in the White Theatre at the Old Globe through May 6.
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Tauber is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com