The Segal Centre for Performing Arts will present A Bintel Brief, a Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre (DWYT) production. One of the DWYT’s most beloved plays, A Bintel Briefpresented in Yiddish with English and French supertitlesreturns to the Segal Centre Studio (5170 chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine) for eight performances from October 14 to October 21, 2018.
A Slice of Life in the Early 20th Century
A Bintel Brief (“A Bundle of Letters”) is based on letters written by Jewish immigrants to the editor of the Yiddish newspaper, Forverts (The Jewish Daily Forward), in the early 20th century. From romantic quandaries, family quarrels, and the challenges of assimilation to the hardships, tragedies, and disillusionment they faced following their arrival in the New World, these letters reflect the daily realities of Eastern European Jewish immigrants adapting to their new lives in North America. Told through comedy, drama, and song, A Bintel Brief presents the real stories of strangers in a new land and serves as a poignant reminder that the immigrant experience is universal and timeless.
The DWYT Celebrates its 60th Anniversary with a Beloved Classic
Founded in 1958 by Dora Wasserman, the DWYT celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and to mark this milestone, they will be mounting their 15th production of A Bintel Brief. “That we wanted to pay tribute to our company’s history by presenting one of our most popular productions was worthwhile in and of itself,” said Ben Gonshor, President of the DWYT. “But in light of the reality of the times we’re living in,” he continued, “the true life stories of how our forebears came to North America and made their way upon arriving in the new world, touched a raw nerve in all of us and lent an urgency to presenting the play.” Originally commissioned by Dora Wasserman in the 1970’s, A Bintel Brief has toured throughout Canada and the United States. While the letters included in the play were written as early as 1905, the themes of immigration, assimilation, and hope are as relevant as ever.à
Talented Volunteer Performers Take the Stage
The multi-generational cast of both veteran and new DWYT performers bringing this story to life include: Salomé Assor, Cheryl Blum, Danielle Buch, Mark Buch, Maia Cooper, Mia Cooperman, Jonathan Eidelman, Kinneret Finegold, Rachel Finegold, Joel Fink, Aron Gonshor, Jodi Lackman, Bram Lackman-Mincoff, Betty Kis Marer, Catherine Marmen, Veronica Schnitzer, Mikey Samra, Sam Stein and features YAYA kids from the Segal Centre Academy.
Tickets are on sale now at 514.739.7944 or at www.segalcentre.org.
The Jewish Standard Magazine 