A Shonda: a person, thing, or act that brings shame or scandal, a disgrace as defined by those within the Judaic faith.
The definition sets up the world and premise for the production of the new musical “A Shonda” by Plays of Wilton. Directed by Plays of Wilton founder Ronnie Larsen, music and lyrics are by Dennis Manning and Bobby Peaco, South Florida locals who both helped create the musicals “Now & Then” and “One More Yesterday,” which also had their world premieres at The Foundry.
Originally a play by Wendy Graf, a California-based playwright, Larsen discovered the script and immediately saw the potential to make it a musical, eventually getting permission from the playwright to do just that. The play-turned-musical opened at The Foundry in Wilton Manors on July 10 and ran through Aug. 11. It closed for a few weeks and it opened again on Friday, Aug. 23 through Sunday, Sept. 1, with new leads and Larsen stepping into a supporting actor role.
Larsen attributed the change in cast due to scheduling conflicts with actors when he decided to extend the production because of demand for tickets.
“A Shonda” is a musical that confronts an extramarital affair wrapped in musical numbers and over-the-top humor, which lightens the weight that comes with not just a cheating spouse but someone going against familial beliefs and tradition.
A young Orthodox Jewish man, Duvid (who was played by Brandon Campbell for the first half of the run and now is played by Christopher Ross-Dybash), and a down-home country boy, Clay (Jackson Goad, who co-starred in the first iteration, now Kyle Smith has stepped into the role), struggle to reconcile their relationship as both communities keep them apart by using religion as a wedge.
Larsen as director and playwright took this heart-wrenching piece about love, religion, family and expectation and infused it with just enough depth to tap into the inner turmoil of the characters while also exploring their joy through musical numbers and quick and clever dialogue.
“A Shonda” smartly tells the love story between two men through a current setting of their ongoing affair intertwined with flashbacks of them as young Duvid (Kaden Pesaturo) and adolescent Clay (Jackson Goddard); how they met, how they fell in love, and how their upbringings worked against them.
While it is the love story between Duvid and Clay, the focus is on the world behind the Orthodox Jewish man, highlighting lessons learned from Duvid’s father-in-law Rebbe (Larsen has replaced Avi Hoffman who originated the role). The height of Duvid’s conflict is an internal one as he works through what he perceives are his own religious responsibilities; flashbacks with Rebbe are presented to highlight them. Larsen shapes the scenes and songs with comical flair from energetic dance numbers, well-choreographed by Oren Korenblum, to witty back and forth dialogue with Clay and his mother Dottie (Angie Radosh).
The two main characters couldn’t be more different. Clay in cowboy boots and western wear contrasts Duvid, a slight build and dressed in his black pants and jacket and his hair underneath his black hat with long curled sidelocks (peyot) hanging out from under.
Duvid’s soft voice and hesitant physicality, contrast those of the loud, proud and outspoken Clay. That “cowboy” persona is even more pronounced when he’s interacting with his mother, a cussing drinker who wears her Christianity proudly.
And when it comes to Dottie knowing all along about Clay’s sexuality she doesn’t let that stand in her way of pushing her heterosexual expectations onto him. “It’s a shame, this is not how you were raised, you’re just going through a phase, it’s a shame,” she sings in one of the musical’s best original songs.
Another actress who remains in one of the leading roles for this second time around performance is Ana Marie Calise, whose characters are cleverly created to connect both worlds between the southern Baptist and the Orthodox Jew. Calise plays Rachel, Duvid’s devoted wife, and Amanda, who doesn’t hide the fact that she’d like to be more than friends with Clay.
The characters might each hold an important place in this musical, but their story would not be complete without the ensemble which is surprisingly large for the intimate space at The Foundry. As the Jewish music and themes carry on through the show, the family and traditions that come with them are grounded in truth by the ensemble. Their presence gives weight to the expectations with beautiful and haunting music by Manning and Peaco throughout.
What the production might lack in sets, and large-scale budget, it makes up for with playful lighting design by Preston Bircher. Color flashes during the dance heavy numbers like “Line Dance” and then creates a mood with the spotlight on Dottie as she pleads for her son’s soul in “Shame.” The lights give life to the both loud and intimate moments and creates an atmosphere that makes the space seem larger than it is.
Larsen’s vision of taking Graf’s play and turning it into a musical has created a buoyant and joyful atmosphere in what otherwise could be a much too tragic world.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: “Plays of Wilton presents “A Shonda” by playwright Wendy Graf, with songs by Bobby Peaco and Dennis Manning. Choreography by Oren Korenblum. Produced and directed by Ronnie Larsen.
WHERE: The Foundry, 2306 N. Dixie Hwy., Wilton Manors
WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. Through Sunday Sept. 1
TICKETS: $27.50, $37.50, premium seating $53.50
INFORMATION: Call (954) 286-8790 or http://www.playsofwilton.com/
