Posted by Risa Meyer
September 17, 2009

Review: My Name is Asher Lev is spellbinding. It was an extraordinary combination of acting, script, direction, and delivery.

Do not miss this show, because these words don’t even do it justice.

Posted by Geoff
September 17, 2009

Review: A slightly out of date story about the conflicts of religion, growing up, and pursuits in the world of art…. the scripting is oddly stilted, without any real engagement between the actors.. they appear merely to be reading, rather than interacting. Consequently, there is no real emotional tension with an appropriate climax and resolution. The set carries this oddly distanced approach forward, built areound a large rough wood star of David. there is never a sense that this is a real story, about real people.
The acting is very good….although the Asher Lev actor is a bit contemporary for this piece…he feels lost somewhere between a contemporary character in a very dated situation.

All in all, entertaining, but not satisfying.

Posted by Gerry Goldsholle (MTC Board Member)
September 17, 2009

Review: Peter Stadlen, the actor playing the title character Asher Lev, put on one of the most incredible performances I have had the pleasure of seeing in person.

Stadlen’s portrayal of Lev over a period of 20 years – first as as a young boy, then a youth, then as an adolescent and finally as a young – was a masterful. You not only could feel the character’s anguish but see the sweat.

In decades of attending live theater I can recall only 3 other equally memorable performances. And Mr. Stadlen is in very good company as two of the performances were by Sir Ian McKellen (one as Richard III in San Francisco and the other as King Lear in Stratford-on-Avon) and the third was by George C. Scott as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman at Circle in the Square in New York in the 1970s.

Bravo!!!!

Posted by Nanette & Bill:
September 16, 2009

Review: We’re long-time theater goers, and MTC supporters. We have to say that “My Name is Asher Lev” is, on a scale of 1 – 10 (low to high), it’s an absolute 10! One of the best plays we’ve ever seen, both the story, the production and the terrific acting. It was absolutely riveting, and the best description of the passion of an artist we’ve ever heard.

All of the acting was superb; the lead actor portraying Asher, was extraordinarily effective – playing the role of a child to a young man brilliantly and with such passion and nuance.

Bravo to all that participated in this production…….we’re sure to tell all of our friends

Posted by Lola Safer
September 14, 2009

Review: “My Name is Asher Lev” is an intense and thoughtful play true to the book. Peter Stadlen, who plays Asher Lev, does a remarkable job metamorphing on stage from a 6 year old to a successful artist over the objections of his Hasidic parents and community. Great production.

Posted by Vic Chiarella
September 14, 2009

Review: The best yet! A wonderful play with a superb cast. Once again, MTC proves to be the best theater experience in the Bay Area.

Kudos!!!

Posted by: Carol
Monday, Sept 14, 2009

Review: Attended the final ‘Preview’ of My Name is Asher Lev last night. The play was stunning. The actors received standing ovations–but the standing derived from authentic, irrepressible need to praise and release emotion, and not some automatic behavior.

The set was spare but compelling: you pay undivided attention to the three actors playing under a deconstructed Star of David. Two of the actors (Danielle Levin and Patrick McNulty) play several different parts; Peter Stadlen plays Asher Lev, who tells us the story of his childhood and young adulthood, acting the different ages and struggles of a gifted artist whose gift is unacceptable to his father and unwelcome within the context of his religious upbringing. Mr. Stadlen does a beautiful job of keeping us involved through a number of monologues, some of which feed an excessive amount of undramatized information and backstory. Nevertheless, as an actor he holds us close, and thankfully, the monologues work. The evening was a success. And this was ‘just’ a preview!

Posted by: ahalligan
Sunday, Sept 12, 2009

Review: WOW!!! I just saw “My Name is Asher Lev” tonight, and I want to thank you for a most outstanding production. Everything about it was excellent and thought-provoking. Peter Stadlen was amazing – how does he do it? He never leaves the stage and one can feel his emotions as well as see and hear them. It is a haunting tale, and we had a great time discussing it on the way home.

Can’t wait for the review and will tell all my friends to get to Mill Valley to see this wonderful play.

Posted by Daria B on 4/3/09

I am still reeling and full of thoughts and feelings after seeing last night’s ‘Lydia’ at MTC.
This story, so poetically and yet, too, so darkly realistic in its writing and telling, may be too much for those who do not wish to enter into the darker corners of their being.

We all have, I am certain, to some degree or other, something in our lives that will be intensely touched by these amazing performances and this beautifully and courageously written piece.

Bravo bravo bravo!

See it!

Posted by Nikki T on 4/3/09

Wow. My friends and I have been season ticket holders for several years. We relish controversial material and the shock factor, and love to stretch our emotions, good and bad, through theater. But for us, Lydia took things too far. This production left us feeling like we needed to go home and take a shower or turn on the TV or something to take us out of our misery. It was confusing and unenjoyable, and we unanimously found ourselves feeling repulsed. Incidentally, we are all in our 40s, and hope this isn’t your strategy to draw younger viewers. Please tell us this isn’t indicative of the direction of things to come!