Hershel (Thomas Malinovsky) lights the menorah. Photo by Heather Regan Photography.
At the Jewish Community Center of northern Virginia, a truly special show is running through December 8th. “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins” was originally a children’s picture book written by Eric Kimmel in 1989. Kimmel based his tale of bravery on folk hero Hershel of Ostropol, a mainstay of Jewish literature, and Hershel himself was based on a historic figure who lived in Ukraine in the late 18th century. Kimmel’s iteration of Hershel’s exploits has been adapted for the stage multiple times by various theater companies throughout the United States. This version, written by Rebecca Kalant, follows Zayde (the Yiddish word for “Grandfather,” played by Bob Rosenberg) as he regales his three granddaughters with the tale of Hershel’s efforts to defeat the goblins who are terrorizing a small village. The goblins are set on ensuring that the townsfolk are unable to celebrate Hanukkah in peace. No spoilers here, but Kalant’s script effectively ties the real-world struggles of Zayde and Bubbe (the Yiddish word for “Grandmother,” played by Janice Zucker) into Hershel’s journey. Do Ariel (Adele Wiseman), Alex (Vianne Vazquez), and Noa (Emma Chase) discover the true meaning of Hanukkah? You have to wait and see!
… the amount of care that went into this production shines…a thought-provoking story and technical wonder.
As “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins” director Adam Ressa puts it, it’s refreshing to see a play centering Hanukkah in “a sea of Christmas Carols.” Sometimes the effort put into a show’s program is an excellent precursor of what the show is all about. In this case, the amount of care that went into this production shines from the get-go. The program features a “Special Thanks” section, a short but effective director’s note, a blurb on Eric Kimmel, and glossary of Yiddish terms and sheet music for “Rock of Ages” or Ma’oz Tsur, a hymn generally sung on Hanukkah after lighting the festival lights. This show was a labor of love—from the backdrop Alexander Chang’s dulcet clarinet to Benjamin Cudmore, Judith Harmon, and Lydia Matson’s cleverly designed puppets, every detail was pinpointed and executed professionally. The moment Zayde steps into a spotlight and Chang’s clarinet begins to sing, Ressa and Kalant’s vision begins to take shape before your eyes. An audible “ooo” emerged from the audience when the actors began the shadow puppet work that follows Hershel (Thomas Malinovsky) throughout the play. Ressa made a good choice in confining big set changes to specific scenes, using the shadow puppets to signify movement over long distances. This created a sense of wonder and playfulness culminating in a hilarious moment where Malinovsky and ensemble actor James Lago play a half-shadow puppet half real-world game of fetch with a shadow-goblin.
All the best children’s stories have an element of darkness to them, and “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins” toes a fine line between cheery and spooky. The design of the King of the Goblins (portrayed by Sharon Peterson, Whitney Perez, Maxwell Hayes, Elizabeth Suzanne, and Renée Wolfe) brought the spooky factor tenfold. A giant puppet with red glowing eyes and arms almost long enough to link around the entire set, the King of Goblins was an excellent pay-off for those of us who like some holiday chills. “Hershel” is a thought-provoking story and technical wonder.
Running Time: Fifty minutes with no intermission.
“Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins” ran December 5-8, 2024 at The Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, Virginia, 22031. For more information about the company and upcoming productions, please go online.
