Russian Jewish Theater, a Forgotten Art

Today I went to see "Chagall and the Artists of Russian Jewish Theater, 1919 - 1949," being shown at the Jewish Museum. The Jewish Museum is a fascinating, underrated museum devoted to the cultural history of Jews. This exhibit pointed a spotlight on the ephemeral art of theater, and the ever tragic history of Russian Jews.


The Bolshevik revolution brought new found freedoms to Russia, including the freedom of expression. In the early 1920s rose two theater companies: the Habima and the G.O.S.E.T.. The Habima put on productions of Jewish folklore in the ancient language of Hebrew. The GOSET (an acronym for Moscow State Yiddish Theater) was performed in Yiddish, a mix of German and Hebrew that is now considered a dead language.


The strength of the show comes from its wide variety of imagery. Sketches of costumes, stage designs, paintings, and theater posters are combined with photos, film footage, and real costumes to create a vivid image of the radical theatrical genre.


What I found most interesting about the show (and my main reason to encourage you to go see it) is the expressive nature of the designs. If you ever go see a show today, the more popular styles of costume design include realistic interpretations (King Lear, for example in Elizabethan robes) or minimalist design (white tee and jeans a la No Frills Revue). The Habima and GOSET, however, fell in right with the Russian Expressionists. Artists like Marc Chagall, Natan Altman, and Robert Falk provided costume and stage designs. Costume drawings by Altman are edgy, angular, and symbolic. A drawing of a Chasidic boy consists of a jacket with a large, square tiffilin sticking out. Marc Chagall's works are very different. His stage designs are simple, including only the bare minimum clues, but organic: curves, waves, and a lack of right angles are sprinkled on the stage, like his paintings.


Something not to miss is the inconspicuous, but ever ingenious artwork displayed as soon as you walk in the door. Please mind the descriptions and the film clips, but stop stop stop! Don't move on just yet - you've missed the best part! There are three small panels that peer into the room adjacent. While I was there, people were walking past it without realizing what was there. At first, you get a glimpse of Marc Chagall's impressive mural, The Introduction to Jewish Theater. It illustrates people in his idiosyncratic costumes. Like his paintings, people are floating throughout, with little emphasis on a particular setting. When looking closer, you will realize the brilliance of the windows. The Jewish Museum has made a new artwork all its own. The on lookers in the room now become part of the scene too. They join the colorful, comical characters of Chagall's to create a scene of on-looker and actor.


Finally, don't miss the film at the end of the show. A short documentary describes the effects of Solomon Mikhoels' work on Jewish history. His influence on the Russian people's patriotism after Hitler's invasion of the USSR, followed by his assassination by Stalin is one of the many powerful pieces of the show. Unfortunately, like theater, Mikhoel's history to most is evanescent.


I don't want to give away the whole show, but I can honestly say that it's worth seeing. The show paints a picture of Russian Jewish Theater through images, history, and biography. It's one of the most enlightening shows of the year.