A Walk With Mr. Heifetz

See it if Musicals are not your thing and a play with substance is what you are craving. Mr.Lochtefeld was superb .

Don't see it if A slow, finely acted bit of history is not what you wish to witness in your leisure time. To each his own, but it will be your loss !

See it if you are a history buff and enjoy fictional dramatizations of what might have occurred.The haunting melody in the background only enhances it

Don't see it if accents are hard for you to decipher or if you prefer your history not to be fictionalized or if large productions are preferred

See it if Six ideas in search of a play, it tries to say something profound about Jews, Zionism, grief, music, and art, but it falls way short.

Don't see it if It lacks energy, depth, dramatic tension, sufficient backstory, or character development. Not fully formed, but it could be salvaged.

Also The violinist was excellent. Had she played only, dayenu.

See it if are interested in the history of the modern state of Israel.

Don't see it if you want to see a play about Jascha Heifetz or are looking for a lot of music.

See it if you're a fan of any member of the cast or are fascinated by works centering around small, seemingly insignificant conversations

Don't see it if you're looking for something stimulating. Honestly, I was far more curious about all of the interesting events this play glosses over

See it if Beautiful live performance of violin showcased on stage and built in between lines.

Don't see it if The accent, the slow pace, a late payoff all contributed to an experience that wasn’t so worthwhile despite the earnest performance.

Also Free sushi truck after the show was lovely which makes this review feel slightly guilty...... Read more Read less

See it if you like a bit of history, a bit of music, and some fine acting with a beautiful and moving story

Don't see it if you want something fast-paced or flashy.

See it if you like interesting staging and fluid plots

Don't see it if like a clear plot line

See it if You want to hear beautiful violin playing and are interested in heifitz and history of israel

Don't see it if You do not like violin playing on stage and youre looking for a play with an interesting plot.

See it if You like are interested in the founding of the state of Israel and how music can play a part in joining people together.

Don't see it if you don't like small, quiet plays that are mostly conversational.

Also The violinist was terrific and added some depth to the production.

See it if , you have an interest in Palestinian and pre Israel

Don't see it if You expect to hear any great violin music reminiscent of heifiz

See it if You must see any show at all related to Israel and/or Heifitz

Don't see it if You like good stories, well written and engaging. This one is slow, talky and preachy.

See it if If you like shows based on possible true events and do not mind the author linking facts together

Don't see it if If you do not want to see plays about holocaust, state of Israel

See it if you are stimulated by philosophical discussions about music, virtuosity, ego, Jewish/Israeli identity, loss, and personal responsibility.

Don't see it if philosophy bores you, you don't care about the 20th-century Jewish resettlement of Palestine, you can't follow heavily accented English.

Also Jascha Heifetz is best known as a virtuosic Russian violinist and showman. This piece explores the idea of virtuosity and ego both as a failing and a vehicle to move and inspire others. Violin music played live onstage by the excellent Mariella Haubs comments on the discussion.

In Act 1, Heifetz, already world-famous, is engaged in a lively discussion with Jehuda Sharett in 1926 Palestine. Sharett's idea that music should be "democratic" (as with the amateur choir he directs) is, in his mind, at odds with the elite type of virtuosity Heifetz displays. A friendly walk turns into an argument, and yet each of them gains something in the end.

Act 2 takes place in 1945, just as WWII has ended and Britain is about to carve up the Middle East. Jehuda's brother Moshe, one of the top three political architects of Israeli independence, visits and finds him in a disillusioned funk. It takes a tragic concentration camp story evoking the memory of Heifetz's visit to give Jehuda clarity and hope.... Read more Read less

See it if a well-acted play about Israeli history and how important music can be might interest you

Don't see it if you want a more dramatic less talky play.

See it if You like plays, history based stores. Specifically about music and Israel

Don't see it if Have no interest in Israel's history or stories about it. Want a comedy or a musical. I would have liked more of the violinist performanc

See it if You enjoy on in depth conversations about music and community. The violinist and actors were good. It taught me some history about Israel.

Don't see it if You don't care to hear about the inner thoughts of musicians or Jewish history. This play is 2 long conversations, so not much plot.

Also Since I am a singer and song writer, I really liked the subject matter. I walked in knowing nothing about the historical setting of the play but it didn't matter. My favorite moment was the description of a song while it played on a record. The two brothers didn't seem very alike in accent or mannerisms, but that was pretty much my only gripe. I was pleasantly surprised but how engaging and moving this show was, and on the first night of previews.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in a timely relevant subject about the power of music to elevate . We’re curious about the title and heifitz’s presence.

Don't see it if If you are not interested in the history of Jew. Don’t see you if you want an easy subject to follow.

Also The accents were a bit difficult to understand. There didn’t seem to be much of a connection between yehuda going to study music and his great importance to the nation when he returned. A thoughtful show.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in the early days of Israel's development and you are intrigued by the intersection of culture, music and identity

Don't see it if you seek a show with more action than lots of speeches at other characters. Too much 'talking heads' staging.

Also I wanted to like this show so much but it just didn't come together sufficiently for me. It has a lot going for it--a compelling topic and good actors but it comes up short. I hope this production will be considered a work in progress and it will be furthered refined and developed.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in the optimism and hope of the prewar Zionist movement. Then the sadness post WWII.

Don't see it if you don't like characters in a play making speeches rather than talking to each other. Well intentioned but lacking in drama.

See it if you like theater made of endless static 2-person conversations

Don't see it if you don't like the above. Also if you expect a play about Heifetz. He's just the catalyst here.

See it if you are interested in the history of the founding of the state of Israel, the role of music, enjoy good violin, the story of Heifetz.

Don't see it if you are not interested in history, Israel and music

See it if You enjoy explorations of human interactions as well as how music can be interpreted in different ways

Don't see it if Like fast paced high energy shows or don't want to understand history from a different perspective

Also Excellent music from the violinist and interesting twist with the phonograph... Read more Read less

See it if You do not mind slow plays with more dialogue than action.

Don't see it if You want a lively production or musical.

See it if Enjoy talky-history and interested in Jewish history

Don't see it if not interested in Jewish history/stories