The social history, culture and life of a London Jewish community are brought to rural Cumbria, by Papa Alan’s grandson, Nick Cassenbaum and musicians Daniel Gouly and Gabor Halasz writes Karen Morley-Chesworth.
The upstairs room of The Appleby Hub was transformed into Canning Town Schvitz – the last authentic bathhouse in East London for Cassenbaum’s play Bubble Schmeisis.
Part of the Highlights Rural Touring Scheme, which brings live events and culture to village halls and community venues across Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland, this production takes you down the North Circular Road in the capital, with Nick, his grandad and his old friends.
This journey of today brings to the fore memories of what made Nick the man he is today, and leaves him with the heavy burden of how he will pass on the memories, traditions and Yiddishe way of life to the next generation.
On this first visit to the steam baths with Papa Alan, Nick learns the rituals – and he is aware of the reality that he may be the last generation to experience these traditional ways of socialising within his own community. Who will I give their first schmeieis to? Nick asks, and how will he continue this legacy and right of passage.
Written and performed by Cassenbaum, this production is so authentic you can feel the deep emotions he feels for his childhood, way of life and culture.
As he stands half-naked, centre stage this is a man who can make you cry with laughter and share his experiences with his words and actions. This is further enhanced by the live music, and characters of the clarinet player, Gouly and piano accordion player Halasz. Their traditional Yiddishe music from different eras and parts of the world created the perfect atmosphere, and their use of their instruments as sounds effects for the production adds an extra level to the performance.
Each scene is a beautiful short novella into a day or time past brought to life by a word, action, or passing building. The movement between these tales is marked by the audience joining Cassenbaum for a mindful ‘breath in………breath out……’ Sat within the audience, which almost filled the room, together making space to take in the often very funny story, with the shared breath, the technique that pulled you deeper into the action.
This production takes you by the hand into another culture and welcomes you with warmth and humour.
There is a shared understanding of childhood, yet seen from another’s cultural perspective. This is a very funny, moving and honest piece of drama.
Just like the steam bath experiences, it strips us bare to see we all have the same passion and desires in life – happiness, home and love for one another. It confronts and breaks down the barriers of misunderstanding which can be used to fuel hatred. It celebrates a way of life, that like many other heritages is fading away before our eyes.
The second half of the evening was a concert by Gouly and Halasz – and here the rich knowledge of Jewish music is shared with passion and exuberance.
Gouly isn’t just an amazing clarinet player, who can make his instrument talk to your soul, he is also an expert in Jewish music. From New York in the 1920s to Eastern Europe in the 1800s, his understanding and devotion make this a very special performance and I came away knowing and understanding a lot more about Jewish music and culture than I did before.
I just hope the bubble never bursts on the traditional Schmeisis and steam baths and people learn to pronounce Beigel the way it should be #LetBagelsBeBeigels – as Cassenbaum says these things are important. They keep alive a way of life.
4/5 Stars
Bubble Schmeisis presented by Nick Cassenbaum at:
- Felton Village Hall, Northumberland, Saturday 19th October,
7.30pm , Tickets here - Levens Village Institute, Cumbria, Sunday 20th October,
8pm , Tickets here - Farnham Maltings; Addlestone Community Centre, Addlestone, 10th November 2019,
2.30pm , Tickets here
Arts Alive Rural Touring Scheme;
- Sparc Theatre, Bishops Castle, Thursday 20th February 2020,
7.30pm , Tickets here - Bitterly Village Hall, Ludlow, Friday 21st
February, 2020,7.30pm , Tickets here - Brilley Village Hall, Kington, Saturday 22nd
February, 2020,7.30pm , Tickets here
