"Toggles between friendly gibes at American culture and somber accounts of past hardships. Revues typically invite more playfulness than 'Amerike' allows, though it finds its heart in moments of self-aware mugging...The musical’s attempts to encapsulate such horrors as the Triangle factory fire in three-minute songs feel rushed and didactic...'Amerike' mostly aims to educate museum-goers and share in nostalgia for Jewish-American culture of yore—and at that it succeeds."
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"The first two-thirds can feel static...But by the end, when the cast makes a plea for immigration of all kinds, the emotion has grown palpably contemporary...We’re here for deep cuts from the Yiddish songbook, and they don’t disappoint...Bryna Wasserman deftly directs the large, talented ensemble, but the best moments are solos...No nostalgic cobweb can long survive the brave sound of klezmer, played with a full heart and as loud as the clarinet can blow."
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"Weaving incredible stories with fantastic songs, multimedia and choreography, the show creates a dynamic portrayal of the Jewish people who immigrated to the United States...Besides a great history lesson, this was a jam-packed, unforgettable evening of non-stop entertainment...'Amerike' is a beautiful piece of theatre. It's everyone's story...See 'Amerike' for an important reminder that will leave a smile and a song in your heart."
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“A brisk, funny, and touching musical revue…The judiciously chosen songs powerfully evoke the tumultuous experiences of four very crowded decades…This is a golden opportunity to sample the work of the Yiddish theatre's most prominent songwriters…At this moment, especially, its essentially upbeat account of immigrants and what they contribute to American culture couldn't be more relevant. This, and its abundance of musical riches, make it a more-than-welcome visitor.”
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"When Jewish immigrants first came to America from Eastern Europe, they thought the streets would be paved with gold...All this and much more is related in National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene's wonderful revival...It features a seven-piece klezmer band on stage and a talented cast of 12 singers, dancers and actors who effortlessly take the audience back to a world of hunger and hope."
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"A rousing, if episodic, look back. Stellar performances by 14 actors—we’re talking Broadway caliber—bring the heyday of Yiddishkeit into sharp focus...Bryna Wasserman’s direction is spot-on, and lighting shifts, photographic projections, and quickly changing period costumes enhance the production. That said, this is not a history lesson, and there is not much of a narrative thread holding the 41 song and dance numbers together."
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"A uniformly superb cast of 12 actors handles the demands of language, song and acting with terrific energy – briskly paced and staged by director Bryna Wasserman...Ultimately full-bodied entertainment, with a wide spectrum of pathos, dramatic substance and comedy...What does the story of the Jews have to do with the rest of us? The answer is: everything. Sure, the revue is entertaining, but beyond that it speaks to the totality of the American experience."
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"The immigrant experience for people from every land has more similarities than differences. 'Amerike–The Golden Land' manages to capture that brilliantly...A universal and leveling experience, no matter what your ethnic background...Director Bryna Wasserman keeps the pace, places and years moving quickly and recognizably…Even more remarkable are the performances of the cast...This is a show that will please the whole family from 10-year-old Junior to 90-year-old great grandma."
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