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Actor David Rosenberg stars in playwright Michele Lowe’s dramatic one man, one act play “Moses”, running now through Sunday, May 17 at Zoetic Stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami.
Despite the name on the title, “Moses” is not about the famed Moses who led the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt thousands of years ago. Rather, the “Moses” portrayed by David Rosenberg is a contemporary man living in the Bronx borough of New York City who is pondering the meaning of his life.
The play begins with “Moses” (played by David Rosenberg) pondering how a fire happened in his home in which he lost his wife and his five children and how he was not able to know about the fire before the tragedy occurred.
The remainder of the play is about Moses coming to grips with the aftermath of the tragedy. Rosenberg in torn about going on with his life and finding meaning about God and all things that he treasured as an Orthodox Jew who is devoted to his faith and his community.
Moses asks God several times in the play if He forgets about me, will God forget about him.
The story traces the seven-year journey of Moses to find resolution for meaning in his life, often with conflicts with friends and relatives as he moves from New York to Massachusetts, continually questioning God.
Rosenberg serves the play not only by playing Moses, but also acting as the play’s narrator. Rosenberg engages the audience as a “fourth wall”, not breaking character, but as the narrator poses questions for the audience to consider.
Specifically, Rosenberg selects a Rabbi (and the play casts local Rabbis, such as Rabbi Julie Jacobs of The Center for Jewish Living at Beth David Congregation in Miami to answer questions on Jewish tradition so that the audience can learn and understanding some of the multiple problems that “Moses” faced in his journey to understand about his Jewish faith and his relationship to God.
Rosenberg’s skills in playing “Moses” and “Narrator” and his timing added to the mystery and dramatic tone of the play. The audience becomes totally immersed in the journey of Moses as the suspense builds to the end of the play.
The play includes dream-like moments in which the audience ponders whether Moses will find meaning in his Jewish faith and relationship with God or not.
Both Rosenberg and playwright Lowe succeed in balancing the dark tones of the story mixed with some moments of humor and optimism. Zoetic Stage Director Stuart Meltzer has Rosenberg moving fluidly in an in- the- round stage keeping the story and the tension flowing
Projection Designer Steve Corey added to the productions with images of flames and snow circling above the stage throughout the play.
Clarinetist Orin Jacobs added to the somber mood by playing the clarinet in many dramatic scenes.
The Zoetic Stage creative team of Lighting Designer Becky Montero, Scenic Designer Nikolas Serrano and Wardrobe Supervisor Debbie Richardson created the detailed set that added to the suspense in the play.
David Rosenberg’s career is not only in acting, but also as playwright. His play “Wicked Child” was performed last season to critical acclaim at Zoetic Stage. His efforts as an actor in “Moses” are also superb.
“Moses” succeeds in allowing the audience to ponder how faith and meaning can be endured by a person who has suffered in his life.
Playwright Michele Lowe’s one act, one man drama “Moses” is running now through Sunday, May 17 at Zoetic Stage at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd in downtown Miami. Tickets range from $66.69-$72.54. For more information and showtimes, call 305-949-6722 or go to zoeticstage.org
