Born to Jewish immigrant parents in 1906, Clifford Odets dropped out of school at 17 to become an actor and was one of the original members of the New York City-based, avant-garde, left-wing ensemble Group Theatre. The group was founded by Harold Clurman, Cheryl Crawford and method-acting guru Lee Strasberg to dramatize the social and political life of their times.
Their vision was of a new theater that would mount original American plays to mirror — and possibly change — life in their troubled times.
“Awake and Sing!” was Odets’ first full-length play, catapulting him to the forefront of the world stage and establishing him as a champion of the underprivileged. Gritty, passionate, funny and heartbreaking, the playcontinues to resonate 80 years after its 1935 premiere.
So this was a perfect time for the Odyssey Theatre to honor the 20th anniversary of its first production of Odets’ play with its original director, Santa Monica resident Elina de Santos, and returning actors Richard Fancy (also a Santa Monica resident) and Brentwood resident Marilyn Fox returning in the lead role of family matriarch Bessie Berger, which she has played under de Santos’ direction across the country.
No doubt, the story will ring true for many as they watch a lower-middle-class, three-generation Jewish family living in a Bronx apartment during the Great Depression struggle with poverty with the threat of eviction always just around the corner. Somewhat typical characters are the two Berger children, both desperately looking for a way out and into a better life.
Bitter at missed opportunities, son Ralph (James Morosini) is his grandfather Jacob’s (Allan Miller) favorite, and first-born daughter Hennie (the intense and emotionally on-the-edge Melissa Paladino), finds herself “in trouble” with her only viable solution to save face and escape the family home by marrying the local nebbish Sam Feinschriber (Gary Patent) who, after the baby arrives, reveals he does not wish his life “on his worst enemy.”
Moving into Hennie’s vacated room is her former flame and con artist Moe Axelrod (handsome David Agranov), a bitter and injured World War I vet. But it is Uncle Morty (Richard Fancy), Bessie’s uber rich brother, who rules the roost when he visits for dinner, with each of the family hoping to acquire his favor and perhaps a few dollars to line their pockets.
Throughout the play, Odets certainly instills his opinion on the evils of poverty in America and how it threatens family life. “Here, without a dollar you don’t look the world in the eye. Talk from now to next year – this is life in America,” says family matriarch Bessie Berger (Fox).
Bessie’s unemployed and henpecked husband Myron (Robert Lesser) often appears in a full-body apron while drying dishes or assisting his wife in preparing meals from what little they have in the kitchen. Lesser and Fox offer little affection for each other, maintaining their relationship because that is just what you did in a Jewish marriage of the time.
At least Bessie faces the harsh reality and keeps order in the home as best she can, no matter what. It is her drive that keeps the family together and the play moving forward. Odets message to wake each day and sing rather than sit back and let the world get you down will always ring true, thus assuring his masterpiece play will continue to be produced and loved by audiences for many years to come.
“Odyssey Theatre associate artistic director Beth Hogan and I feel so strongly about this play and what it has to say for today, that we wanted to bring it back,” says director de Santos. “So many people in 2015 are in the same position as this family, struggling daily with social and economic pressures just to be able to get by. Everything is still skewed to the one percent. Odets talks about the ‘system’ in this play. It’s the same conversation we are having today.”
Set design for “Awake and Sing!” is by Pete Hickok, lighting design is by Leigh Allen, sound design is by Christopher Moscatiello, costume design is by Kim DeShazo and props are by Katherine S. Hunt. The assistant directors are Tovya Jacobs and Tracey Silver, with Ron Sossi and Beth Hogan producing for Odyssey Theatre Ensemble.
“Awake and Sing!” performances take place Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Nov. 29. Additional weeknight performances are scheduled on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on Oct. 14 and Nov. 4, and on Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Oct. 8, Oct. 22, Oct. 29, Nov. 12 and Nov. 19.
Three post-performance discussions will take place on Oct. 10, Oct. 24 and Nov. 4 and are included in the ticket price. Tickets are $34 on Saturdays and Sundays; $30 on Fridays; and $25 on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with $20tickets available for seniors and $15 tickets for students and members of SAG/AFTRA/AEA. There will be three “Tix for $10” performances on Friday, Oct. 2; Wednesday, Oct. 14; and Wednesday, Nov. 4. The third Friday of every month is wine night at the Odyssey: enjoy complimentary wine and snacks and mingle with the cast after the show. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles, 90025. For reservations and information, call (310) 477-2055 or go to www.OdysseyTheatre.com.
