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Cafe Scheherazade
Date of Show:
Tuesday, 8th March 2011 (All day)
Venue:
Fortyfivedownstairs In St Kilda, Café Scheherazade was a warm and safe meeting place with lively conversation and famous recipes of chicken soup and black forest cake.
Cafe Scheherazade is being presented at fortyfivedownstairs until April 3rd, and I would get along and see it if I were you. This play focuses on the iconic Melbourne cafe, and as a result, on the tales and experiences of Jews who suffered displacement and persecution in Europe in the twentieth century and came to Melbourne as a result. It is a microcosm of the agony of displacement felt by a whole generation, and about the humour, love of music and storytelling that helps them to deal with it, and about the sense of community amongst these people. It is not only a cultural record of these migrants, but a play which ranks up there with the best.
Cafe Scheherazade is written by Therese Radic, directed by Bagryana Popov and produced by Mary Lou 
Jelbart. As most people know, the story was originally chronicled by Arnold Zable, first in an article in The Age, and later in the novel Cafe Scheherazade. It is the story of Avram and Masha Zeleznikow, a Jewish migrant couple who opened a cafe on Acland Street which became a haven and meeting place for their people. It is a story which obviously, from the beginning, begged to be told. There will be many of us who have been to the real Cafe Scheherazade, or at least heard of it, when it operated from 1958 to 2008.
Jelbart. As most people know, the story was originally chronicled by Arnold Zable, first in an article in The Age, and later in the novel Cafe Scheherazade. It is the story of Avram and Masha Zeleznikow, a Jewish migrant couple who opened a cafe on Acland Street which became a haven and meeting place for their people. It is a story which obviously, from the beginning, begged to be told. There will be many of us who have been to the real Cafe Scheherazade, or at least heard of it, when it operated from 1958 to 2008.
This play opens with rousing music, and singing by the cast. The buzz was obviously felt by the actors, and it filled the space. We are introduced to Martin, played by Jacob Allan, a young writer who has come to chronicle the experiences of these people. He seems the odd one out in the cafe.
We are introduced to three cafe regulars- Laizer, Yossel and Zalman. They have become like family over the last few decades. They have the camaraderie, mixed with a sense of competition and some irritation, that siblings often have. Laizer, Yossel and Zalman love to do what is popular with the older generation. They love to tell stories and debate. They have their own ways of dealing with their past pain
Martin begins to talk to Masha, played by Marta Kaczmarek. The first thing obvious about Kaczmarek is her resemblance to Masha. Martin later draws out Laizer, the quietest of the three locals. Terrible stories emerge, of having to mend clothes with fish bones from soup and, while in incarceration, not washing for a year. The stories do not become really intense, though, until Martin gets round to Avram, played by Jim Daly. His tragic story emerges. He comes across as being like a cat with nine lives.
The stories do not lighten up until we reach the beginning of the romance between Masha and Avram. Among the loss of culture and identity emerges this remarkable tale. Knowing that Cafe Scheherazade- the saving grace for so many migrants- was brought about by love is so surprising and heartening.
The spine-tingling music, directed by Elissa Goodrich, was a highlight of the play. Part of it is played on stage, with Ernie Gruner on violin and Justin Marshall on accordian, and some is recorded. The lighting, by Richard Vabre, complements the drama of the storytelling. The costumes match the earth and muted tones of the set, designed by Adrienne Chisholm. Just simple brown, grey and cream predominately... the only bright splash of colour being Yossel’s green bowtie. It was all that was needed.
The actors seemed relaxed with each other. Kaczmarek, possessed of a lovely accent, gave a striking and enticing performance as Masha. When Jim Daly comes forward as Avram, he tells his story with such raw tragedy that he contrasts with his wife. Daly’s performance was memorable in its power and capacity to move the audience.
Jacob Allan was fine as Martin, the young man who has the urge to write down the stories. Bruce Kerr, Richard Bligh and George Werther, as Yossel, Laizer and Zalman respectively, were very compelling in the way they brought out the contrasting personalities of the three regulars. Lazar is sombre. Yossel comes across as a vibrant and buoyant personality. Zalman, who is casual about his pain, is almost non-committal. The three actors brought out the camaraderie and sense of familiarity between these men. The two musicians were in the stage space, but unfortunately I could not see them at all from where I was sitting. They sounded good, though!
The text, by Therese Radic, is beautifully written. As for the theatre, unlike a lot of small venues fortyfivedownstairs does not give a feeling of front of house, the performance space and technical space all being part of the same vibe and clumsily bundled up into one experience. Because of the design, a good impression is created of the sanctity of the stage space and the magic of the theatre. I don’t know when I’ve clapped so hard at the end of a show. Clearly, Cafe Scheherazade is an experience not to be missed.
State:
VIC