[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of CASA 0101 Theater’s Tuesdays with Morrie, written by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom, based on the book by Mitch Albom, directed by Miguel Angel Delgado, and running April 18 – May 11.
Tuesdays with Morrie is a classic American book, play and of course, film starring Jack Lemon and Hank Azaria. Over the years, it has become a much-loved play, so I was thrilled to see that CASA 0101 had decided to host a production. The story is this: a successful sports journalist, Mitch Albom, hears his college mentor and professor of sociology, Morrie Schwartz, has Lou Gehrig’s Disease and rushes to see him before it’s too late.
But what began as a quick trip to say goodbye becomes regular weekly visits and a deep, meaningful friendship that changes both of them. It’s sentimental, sure. However, there’s much more to this play than just heartbreak. These men love each other. Their connection when Mitch was at college was deep. But even though they haven’t seen each other for 16 years, they pick right up where they left off. There’s a kind of muscle memory we have with certain people in our lives, isn’t there? No matter how long it’s been. The heart is a muscle, after all.
Tuesdays with Morrie is a story about love and also trying to understand one another, forgive one another, even if we disagree. Something particularly important for us all right now.
Two men who are at totally different stages in their lives reconnect not because one of them is dying, although that was Mitch’s initial motivation, of course. But because the dying man is able to live his life with more authenticity than the living one. Mitch has become trapped by his own ambition. Afraid to be even a morsel of the musician he once was. As if becoming who he longed to be would overwhelm him. It is for Morrie to remind him that we have no time…literally.
At one point in the play, Mitch laments that there is no point in loving. “Loving is the point,” says Morrie. Quite right! The lesson is pertinent at any time, but it feels more so now with our collective angst. The actual Mitch and his Morrie were Jewish and Boyle Heights used to be full of predominantly Jewish families. So, perhaps it is fitting that these Tuesdays with Morrie roles are now played by Hispanic actors since the neighborhood is now mostly Hispanic.
However you look at it, these wonderful actors take this simple story and fill it with pathos and truth. Masterful and nuanced performances give the story new life. Which is all that any playwright can wish for, surely.
Stripped back and subtle staging is all these engaging actors require to create the world they occupy for the time it takes for a man to die. As I looked around at my fellow audience, I could see they were captivated by this truly lovely production. While Morrie was dying, he was busy living…perhaps we can all take a page from his book. Bravo to CASA 0101 for bringing this play back to a new and hopefully thoroughly inspired audience! Bravo!
Tickets:
https://casa0101.org/?shows=tuesdays-with-morrie
When:
April 18 – May 11
Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, Sundays at 3PM
Where:
CASA 0101
2102 E 1st St Los Angeles, CA 90033
The Cast of Tuesdays with Morrie
Vance Valencia (Morrie Schwartz) and Gilbert Reynoso (Mitch Albom).
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