ENERATIONTHEATRE
Agameoflove&chance
Adapted from Marivaux's Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard
Translated, freely adapted and directed by David Valayre
November 29, 30; December 1, 6, 7 & 8 at 7:30 p.m.
December 1, 2, 8 & 9 at 2:30 p.m.
The Southside Theater
Fort Mason Center
San Francisco
FALL 2018
Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard [The Game of Love and Chance] was first performed 23 January 1730 by the Comédie Italienne. In this play, a young woman is visited by her betrothed, whom she does not know. To get a better idea of the type of person he is, she trades places with her servant and disguises herself. However, unbeknownst to her, her fiancé has the same idea and trades places with his valet.
This production transports Marivaux's argument into the world of Judaism, where marriages were arranged by benevolent parents, and wedding jitters were not unknown to the sons and daughters of even the wisest rabbis.
Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux
Chance, Destiny
Ladino word meaning luck, destiny. "Mazel tov!" is a common Jewish phrase. For instance, at a Jewish wedding, after the groom breaks the glass, everyone wishes the newly wed "Mazel Tov!"
Ladino song "Scalerica de Oro" sung by Judy Frankel:
A little golden ladder of gold and ivory, which the bride can climb to take her wedding vows.
We came to see, may they have joy, prosper, and be happy.
The bride has no dowry, may they have good mazal, may they have plenty of good mazal.
“My dear friend, I don’t know how you will like this, but my son, Sapir, had an idea. It’s a strange, unconventional idea; he says so himself; but the boy means well. You may even find his plan endearing. He's asked for my permission to arrive at your place in disguise: dressed as his driver and chaperon, Mr. Beadle. In turn, Mr. Beadle, who is not much older than my Sapir, will pretend to be my son.”
Wait. There is more to this story. My Sarah is not so sure of her feelings about Sapir, which was to be expected, since she’s never met him, and she’s my daughter. She’s asked my permission to dress as our maid.
It doesn’t come stranger than that. The question is, should I tell her about the boy’s disguise, or not?
Some might say yes… but then some might say no… and some might say they’re not sure… What does the Talmud say?
Ladino "Mazal Tov" Wedding Ring Uzbek Jewish Bride
CAST & CREW
Translation, Adaptation & Direction
R. David Valayre
With
Abhishek Das as Sapir
Fabien Ferhani as Beadle
Joyce Domanico-Huh as Sarah
Deborah Murphy as Pnina
Jeanette Sarmiento as Simkha
R. David Valayre as Rabbi Sassoon
Music Performed by
Karen Sellinger
Lights
Katrina van Winkle
Sound
Jonathan Loo
Production Consultant,
Costume Design & Makeup
Vishalini Mona Vimal
Assistant to the Director
Alan Badger
A GenerationTheatre Presentation