The Sorceress (Di Kishefmakherin) NYC Reviews and Tickets

83%

(57 Reviews)

Positive

100%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Entertaining, Great singing, Delightful, Enchanting, Clever

About the Show

NYTF presents one of the earliest works of modern Yiddish theater, an 1878 musical fantasy starring an innocent young heroine and her dashing fiancé. Performed in Yiddish with English and Russian subtitles.

From the show:

A magical, musical fantasy starring an innocent young heroine and her dashing fiancé, a devious stepmother, and a scheming wicked witch. “The Sorceress takes its audience into a world of illusion, intrigue, and not least of all, suspense: will Good trump Evil?

Written in 1878, The Sorceress (Di Kishefmakherin) is one of the earliest works by Avrom Goldfaden, the acknowledged father of modern Yiddish theatre. It was brought to America in 1882 by a 14-year old Boris Thomashefsky, who would go on to become one of Yiddish theatre’s biggest stars.

Member Reviews (57)

Dizzying, Quirky, Slow, Entertaining, Clever

See it if Breezy, enjoyable cartoon bright staging of Yiddish folk tale Well sung/performed by ensemble esp Botchan & Yashinsky as the female villains

Don't see it if Supertitles can distract from spirited antics of cast (best to glance up for plot devices) but the Yiddish soon becomes easily acceptable

Refreshing, Entertaining, Great staging, Delightful, Ambitious

See it if charming, colorful, delightful theatricals with dramatic arch villains amuse you. Don't miss this! The singing is wonderful too.

Don't see it if Reading supertitles bothers you. Or if you require even a suggestion of realistic plotting.

Critic Reviews (2)

CRITIC’S PICK. "'The Sorceress’ Casts a Charming Spell in Yiddish: Now playing at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the 19th-century operetta is a fairy tale confection you can feel right down to your kishkes."
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"The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene...has reached even further back in the tradition of Jewish-themed theater in New York City, to 1878, presenting Avrom Goldfaden's 'The Sorceress,' the first piece of Yiddish theater to appear on an American stage..."
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