The stage was set for a memorable evening even before the lights dimmed and the curtain rose. When Shlemiel Went to Warsaw . Confused by the familiarity of his surroundings yet certain he has arrived in a new town, Shlemiel comes to the brilliant yet misguided conclusion that there are, in fact, two Chelms. Notable, too, are the play's fantastic scene and costume changes. Gordon has perfected the art of theater segues in this production, especially as Shlemiel traverses the land in his quest to dispense the profundity from his town.
Whimsical exaggeration is a recurring theme.
The opening scene takes place in Shlemiel's bedroom. McVerry uses her expressive face and adds a gravelly yet nasal tone to her voice, aptly embodying the character of the overworked yet under-appreciated Jewish matron. The true darling of the play is Sokol, celebrating her 30th year as an actress. With her beautiful, strong voice and jocular antics, she stole the show. Like most of the actors in the play, she portrays multiple characters, displaying mastery in her characterizations of Shlemiel's daughter and one of the six wise men in addition to Yenta Pesha.