"'God of Vengeance' is a large, sprawling text, full of complex characters whose motives invite debate. In this, Asch's play embodies the best traditions of Judaism, along with the brokenness he sees in Judaism's most extreme forms....The New Yiddish Rep approaches the play with all the rigor and sensitivity of a Rabbinic scholar poring over a verse of the Talmud."
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"'God of Vengeance' holds the stage formidably in its own right, primarily for its forthright depiction of the love between Yankl’s teenage daughter and one of the women who work in the brothel....Deftly directed by Eleanor Reissa, who is terrific in the role of Yankl’s wife...The production is somewhat cramped on the small stage at LaMaMa and the contemporary setting adds nothing much to the play. But the cast’s commitment brings the work’s flashes of lyricism to powerful life."
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"While the tone of 'God of Vengeance' is over the top by today’s standards, it is fascinating from a historical and cultural perspective. While the kiss scene may no longer be shocking, much of the play is still provocative. In spite of an uneven ensemble and limited production values, the New Yiddish Rep’s production makes for heated and compelling theater."
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"Though Asch's characters tend to be one-dimensional, his intrepid takes on religion, societal mores, and the evil that men do, still resonate…Asch's story has a sensational quality to it that, when combined with melodramatic scenes, sometimes approaches the comical...Reissa gives a wonderfully nuanced performance…Reissa directs the play with some restraint, but the built-in histrionics can't help bursting into the open now and then."
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"Asch's dramaturgy is more than a little old-fashioned...and the play doesn't always get the help it needs from Reissa's direction. A particular disappointment is the Yekel of Shane Baker...Much better are Reissa...and Mandelbaum...Reissa has chosen to stage the production in modern dress, which is surely a mistake...Whatever this production's shortcomings, New Yiddish Rep has done us a favor by producing 'God of Vengeance,' and anyone who has seen 'Indecent' will want to check it out."
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"Reissa, who also directs, has made marvelous use of the small stage…If Reissa is convincing as the practical and mostly amoral Soreh, Baker shines as the conflicted Yankl…The production tries too hard to give Rivkele and Manke a relationship not supported by the text…'God of Vengeance' is not about brothels or lesbians...It is about sin, hypocrisy and ultimately man's relationship to God. Surely that is enough to make this play a masterful study of the human soul."
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“Surprisingly, Eleanor Reissa's production for New Yiddish Rep has made some debatable choices which damage the power of the play. First of all and most obviously, although not a word has been updated, the characters wear contemporary clothing and use modern objects like headphones, a plastic umbrella and platform shoes. Since there are references to opening a horse stable and the sexual mores of 1907 have changed considerably, this is both distracting and confusing.”
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"Even today, Asch's play is relevant and its core ideas are striking. This stage rendition loses some of Asch’s poetic, literary touches…I would like the moments between Rifkele and Manke to linger longer...The opening scene also does not capture the time and mood…Too many colors and styles in the costumes distract from the transportive power of the original text…I still think this is a play worth seeing and reviving, especially for its statement on religious hypocrisy."
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