Paul Collins, Pierre Epstein, Suzanne Toren
Photo by Aaron Epstein

Adaptations of Isaac Bashevis Singer’s short stories are notoriously difficult to pull off. There’s a reason Mr. Singer chose the short story, and not the dramatic format, to tell his tales of Jewish life in the shtetls of Eastern Europe and the streets of New York City. So, it was a pleasant surprise to see Mark Altman’s adaptation of Mr. Singer’s “The Unseen” which he has renamed Sin, a Mystical Comedy. Sin captures the zest and humanity of Singer without losing his otherworldly zing. In this story, which takes place in the town of Frampol in 16^th Century Poland, the angry Devil takes out his frustrations with God by tempting a good couple to commit one sin after another.

Nosn and Royze Temerl (Paul Collins & Suzanne Toren) are a childless, long-married couple entering old age. Successful, religious, reasonably charitable, they are paradigms of Jewish domestic bliss. That is, until the Devil, in the form of Leybish, the coachman (Grant James Varjas) decides that tempting them would bring disorder to God’s earthly harmony. In the guise of offering Royze two young maid servants, Leybish infiltrates his most accomplished seductresses into the Nosn household. They wreak havoc from the moment they are interviewed by the pious Royze Temerl. Dvoyre Leye (Jessiee Datino) is the meeker of the two, but just as complicit in the Nosn/Royze downfall as Shifre Tsirl (Sarah Grace Wilson) the wanton in sexy sheep’s clothing. It is Shifre Tsirl who seduces and beguiles poor Nosn into divorcing his wife, ultimately causing him to become a broken down beggar. Added to the mix is the Nosn’s ultra-pious and penurious business rival, the dried up Moyshe Mekheles (Pierre Epstein) who winds up marrying the distraught and recently divorced Royze, creating further tsoris in Frampol and its environs.

In typical Singer fashion there is deep regret and redemption in the end. God ultimately triumphs, despite the Devil’s efforts and the innate weaknesses of humans. Mr. Altman’s play is as full-bodied as the original story.

He is helped by the gorgeous costumes of China Lee who has put all the characters in sumptuously layered period garb. Perhaps, she might rethink how to portray the two female demons. When not in human mode, they wear odd bits of ribbon, when a more sensual nude, body-stocking look may have been more to the point.


Jessiee Datino, Grant James Varjas, Sarah Grace Wilson

Matthew McCarthy’s lighting was adept at separating the real and the “spiritual” words. But the real kudos go to Michael Locher’s scenic design. He has produced a two-tiered set that serves as both the comfortable home of Nosn and his bewildered spouse and the quarters of the unworldly creatures who sarcastically observe their malfeasance from above. It’s rare that an off-Broadway production has such an expansive and expensive set.

Kent Paul, the director, kept every character from going too far, keeping the ethnic humor in proper balance with the universal message.

The actors, all six of them, were intriguing to watch. Perhaps the two wenches, Jessiee Datino & Sarah Grace Wilson, were a tad too modern in their behavior, but this is nitpicking. Each actor had depth and fashioned both the everyday household of a 16^th Century Jewish home and the spiritual realm of the Devil and his disciples.

Sin, a Mystical Comedy is entertaining, relevant and lovingly produced.

Rose Nagelberg Theatre
Baruch Performing Arts Center of Baruch College
55 Lexington Ave. (at 25^th St.)
New York, NY
Through April 11^th, 2010
Tickets: 212-352-3101 or 866-811-4111 or http://www.ovationtix.com
More Information: http://www.sinbysinger.com