A Walk With Mr. Heifetz

See it if you want to see some good acting a beautiful set, an interesting topic & some nice background violin work. Pre Israel, Israel ..the setting

Don't see it if you need a history lesson. It sometimes gets bogged down in the minutia.

See it if you are interested in the violent development of the Israeli state, the role of art in politics, the impact of grief, brotherly relationship

Don't see it if you're not interested in 20th century history of the Israeli state, don't know much about the Sharret brothers, not into Israeli music

See it if Covers an important time in world history, and gives an insight into the early days of Israel. I found the first act compelling.

Don't see it if But the second act was disappointing. It didn’t really go anywhere, and ultimately didn’t have much to say. However...

Also After the show, there was a mini-concert (which I understand they’ll be doing every Saturday night) that was worth the price of admission. Each week will have someone different, but when I saw it, a young man named Edward W. Hardy played four pieces on viola that were wonderful.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in a play that ties music with the formation of the State of Israel with personal stories.

Don't see it if you're impatient; you don't like talky plays.

See it if you are so fascinated with the modern history of Palestine that you don't need much of a story. Acting was excellent but did not save it.

Don't see it if You require a basic plot and not just arm-waving about principles.

See it if you're strongly pro-Israel &/or would enjoy anything to do with Israeli history, even if the play itself is poorly written & constructed.

Don't see it if you want an interesting, cohesive play that gives you a reason to care about what's onstage, esp if you're not already strongly pro-Israel.

Also 1st act was poorly done, except for the violin playing. Actor playing the famous violinist did an accent that was off & inconsistent, his acting wasn't compelling, and the writing for his role wasn't believable (for instance: at one point he starts to leave out of frustration with the other character, but he decides to stay when the other character hasn't said anything that would have kept him there in real life).

2nd act is better than the 1st, with a decent attempt at character development, good acting, & the most interesting anecdotes in the show (e.g., how their musical anthem came about through accident & luck; one moment when they play a vinyl record that's touching in context), but it's not enough to save the overall show.

It feels like this show was mounted because some wealthy donor or theater board member wanted to get a pro-Israel play onstage. That's fine, but the play should still be interesting & worthwhile to a general audience, esp for the ticket prices being charged.... Read more Read less

See it if you really want to see something about the history of Israel/Zionism

Don't see it if you're looking for an interesting, engaging way to learn history. this is quite boring

See it if You know about the History of Israel in 1926 and have a understanding of what transpired and you understand Hebrew.

Don't see it if If you are looking for an easy understanding of what is happening between characters.

See it if Wonderful acting, good writing, loved the story.

Don't see it if You have no interest in the history of the Jewish culture.

See it if You want to know more about Heifetz.

Don't see it if History and biographical shows bore you.

See it if You have an affection for all stories Jewish and WW2 -y

Don't see it if You are over easy tropes used to tell antiquated stories.

See it if you like Israeli history,if you like pivotal lesser known characters in Israeli history, if you like being transported in time to a kibbutz.

Don't see it if you like plays that spoon feed you, if you are uninterested in the Israeli politics of the 1930's and 1940's.

See it if you're interested in seeing great acting

Don't see it if you are not interested in the historical perspective

See it if You like character dramas; you love classical music, history, psychology, or exploring the depths of human experience

Don't see it if You aren't deep or contemplative, you don't care much for art or classical music or cultural or world history

Also Even more than a exploration of the role art can play in the formation of a cultural identity and nationhood, this play is a profound meditation on the power of art, and music specifically, to ennoble and empower the human spirit in response to even the most devastating of circumstances. In short, for me, it is a reflection on what creates meaning and purpose in human existence: what we live for, what we are made of, and how we manage to endure.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in the formation of Israel or in classical music. Interesting historical figures.

Don't see it if you want lively, engaging theater. WALK is, sadly, dull. Staging w/violinist falls flat. Moshe's accent varies wildly. Long set change.

Also I wanted to like WALK, but the script never came to life. I applaud the attempt to use a young female violinist (the cast is three males), but I found her occasional underscoring of dialogue distracting, even jarring. Maybe the show will improve during previews....... Read more Read less

See it if No reason to go. You will learn nothing interesting about any of the characters.

Don't see it if Slow, unfocused and choppy. A little vanity project touching very respectful topics with a lightness that borderlines on levity.

Also More confusing and shallow than informative and enlightening.
An unbalanced and artificial emphasis on trying to justify the importance of artists. Protesting too much...
It takes away the focus from the efforts of those taking action to try to create a new nation to the babysitting the whims of a frustrated willful wanna-be "artist."... Read more Read less

See it if You don't value you time or money.

Don't see it if You dislike slow, indulgent shows with little action or point. I would have rather stayed home and stared at the wall and talked to myself.

See it if You really want to see another historical play based on a true character’s life learning how to live with the horrors of the Holocaust.

Don't see it if You don’t have an intense interest in Jewish history. There’s not enough story here to make it acccessable to most.

See it if Despite good acting (esp Lochtefeld's Moshe) play is slow & legubrious Ostensibly about music its really about the creation of Isreali state

Don't see it if A didactic history lesson lacking drama. For a play concerning Jascha Heifetz & the creative power of music, its tone deaf

See it if you're interested in the prehistory of the Jewish state, the sometimes uneasy relation of art to public service, or 20th century music.

Don't see it if you have no interest in seeing a simple, story with a single focus modestly told.

Also I admire that the playwright -- a veteran writer who is having the 1st production of a play of his – has chosen to tell a very simple story for his fledgling effort, & to tell it with extreme focus & a minimum of means, trusting in the truth & the importance of what he has to say: There are certain things about the human condition that only art (in this case music) can articulate. And life is so much more fully lived when these things can be articulated. And even when art is the expression of an individual, it is an articulation of the joys & sorrows & aspirations of a people. (And what a lovely, gracious, welcoming space the Cherry Lane Theatre is!)... Read more Read less

See it if OK concept: show how music is key to building the foundation of the new state of Israel; persuasive acting

Don't see it if concept not developed in coherent or compelling manner; historical characters spout cliches about music; violin accompaniment is meh

See it if You have some familiarity with the founding of Israel. You like plays about big ideas. You enjoy plays that use music to tell the story.

Don't see it if You have little/no familiarity w/the founding of Israel:there's no backstory given.You want good pacing:odd intermission doesn't help.

See it if Very slow the first act had violin playing and I think it was more active than the second act it was just brothers talking in a room.

Don't see it if looking for a musical or dancing this is not the play to see.

See it if you enjoy a well set drama about a meeting of two people and the long term effects. Very intense and well acted.

Don't see it if you are not interested in discussions of how music can change the world or the beginnings of the state of Israel.

Also The meeting of the two brothers in the second act was really intense and very moving.
I would like to say that if you have a bad cough, you should stay home for 3 reasons, the first being your own health, the second is not infecting other theater goers and the third being you really can disturb the play you are seeing. There were several coughers in my audience and the woman in front of me had a hacking cough which affected how I could hear or did not hear some of the dialogue at crucial moments.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy thinking about art/music's influence on culture, have some curiosity about the birth of modern day Israel, like polemic debate.

Don't see it if Want action or expect to hear "Heifetz" play music. This is talky, slow, & has little story arc. A mix of accents (even between brothers!)

Also There's a talented female violinist whose "role" is to underscore the moment or dialogue with musical passages.(Not to be confused with the scenes where one of the characters nicely sings.) I appreciate the artistic intent with this idea, but unfortunately, I found it almost annoying. I thought the music was too loud and rather than adding emotional resonance, was somewhat distracting from what was being said.

I expected to love this but ws surprised to find myself yawning.... Read more Read less