Finding healing, forgiveness, faith and love when our beliefs are questioned are the themes of Lessons, a Bema Productions play by Wendy Graf being remounted for three shows this weekend at Langham Court Theatre.
The play explores the relationship between Ben (Alf Small, Horowitz and Mrs. Washington), a Jewish man who has finally decided to have his bar mitzvah, and Ruth (Christine Upright, Prisoner of Second Avenue), a rabbi who has lost her faith, whom Ben hires to be his tutor. Both are facing their own personal struggles, which emerge as their friendship develops and they find common ground.
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Wrote Monday Magazine theatre reviewer Janis La Couvee about the initial production last spring, “Small and Upright are magnificent as Ben and Ruth, with a naturalistic acting style that compels careful attention – not a moment of this two-hour play is wasted.”
Graf is an award winning playwright whose plays have been produced throughout North America. Lessons, directed here by Zelda Dean, was first produced in 2004 by West Coast Jewish Theatre and The Group at Strasberg in West Hollywood.
Bema Productions is now in its fifth season, having formed in advance of Congregation Emanu-El’s 2013 Arts Festival. It won the the Best Drama Award at the 2016 Victoria Fringe Festival, and supports other non-profit agencies through its main stage production each year. This year’s charity of choice is the War Amps, which will receive the proceeds of the performances for its CHAMPS program.
Three shows are scheduled for Langham Court Theatre over the Remembrance Day weekend, including this Saturday (Nov. 10) at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. and Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $23, available online at boxoffice@langhamtheatre.com or by calling the box office at 250-384-2142 to reserve. To find more information on Bema, visit them on Facebook.