Acorn Productions Presents The Wandering Beggar

Acorn Productions, a non-profit company based in the Dana Warp Mill in downtown Westbrook, continues off its 2nd season of Studio Series presentations with an adaptation by local playwright Howard Rosenfield of the book "The Wandering Beggar... or The Adventures of Simple Shmerel" by Solomon Simon. The book was written originally in Yiddish and first published in 1931. It was then translated, by the author and his son, David Simon, and published in English in 1942. "The Wandering Beggar" is comprised of a charming series of vignettes, in which the title character encounters a series of dishonest servants and greedy kings, overcoming each obstacle with a direct and honest approach. By the end of the play, the simple beggar has proven to have more wisdom than the rabbis. This adaptation was commissioned by Acorn and is being performed with the good wishes of the author's family. Acorn's production is directed by veteran theater artist Harlan Baker, and features an ensemble of 11 actors, including returning faces from previous Acorn shows along with several newcomers to the theater scene. The show runs from December 2 through 18, 2011, with performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and may be purchased on-line at www.acorn-productions.org or by calling 854-0065.

Though written in 1931, and narrating events some centuries earlier, "The Wandering Beggar" is a story with the timeless appeal of folk tale. Mr. Rosenfield's adaptation of Solomon Simon's classic book endeavors to bring the language up to date while preserving the sense of village life in the faraway shtetl of Eastern Europe. Simon's stories, written originally for children, have a lightness and imagination that appeals to all ages. And then the tale picks up more difficult themes: war, prejudice, the poverty of some in the midst of others' plenty-issues as current as tomorrow's headlines. Yet at its core, "The Wandering Beggar" is the story of one man, booted from his home as a child and forced to beg, who yet makes something worthwhile of himself, and brings the world great good. Its message of courage and persistence in the face of adversity and struggle is an inspiring and moving one.

Harlan Baker approached first Acorn's Producing Director Michael Levine this summer with the idea of adapting this classic book for the stage. Mr. Baker had the first heard of Simple Shmerel when he was nine or ten years old and attending Hebrew School in White Plains, New York after finishing a day of public school. His Hebrew teacher would read a chapter of the book "The Wandering Beggar- or the adventures of Simple Shmerel" to the class each day of class until he finished the book. The name and some of the stories forever stuck in his mind, particularly the story of how Simple Shmerel outwits the cossacks. When Acorn decided to offer another holiday show featuring Jewish life and culture, this book sprang immediately to mind as a vehicle for this slot in the season.

The cast of "The Wandering Beggar" is comprised of a mixture of veteran performers, students from the Acorn Acting Academy, and newcomers to the Portland theater scene. The title character is played by a real life father and son with HAl Cohen featured as the adult Shmerel and Josh Cohen, a student at Scarborough High School, as the teen incarnation of Shmerel. Also in the cast are Kara Haupt and Seth Berner, both veterans of several Maine Playwrights Festival, local professional actress Laura Vitanza, Acorn students Charlie Cole and Cynthia Eyster, and newcomers David Handwerker, Jesse James, Jaime Rodriquez, and Erik Tainter. Original period music has been composed by Jim Alberty.

Acorn Productions' mission is to invigorate the community of performing artists in Southern Maine. Acorn seeks to nurture new performance pieces, develop artist collaborations, train new talent, and make the arts accessible to a wide spectrum of the general public. Acorn accomplishes these goals by mounting annual festivals that are open to a variety of artists as well as professional performances by local actors in both traditional and non-traditional venues. Ticket prices for these performances are maintained at an affordable level in order to lower economic barriers for potential audience members. Acorn also offers educational programs, including acting classes and workshops, and acts as an umbrella 501(c)3 organization for grassroots organizations or individual artists seeking to become more active members of the performing arts community. The addition of classic theater to Acorn's Studio Theater line-up is an attempt to offer Metro-West audiences a chance to see professional theater without having to drive into Portland.

Who: Acorn Productions

What: The Wandering Beggar, adapted by Howard Rosenfield from the book by David Simon

Where: Acorn Studio Theater, Westbrook

When:
Friday, December 2nd at 7:30p.m.
Saturday, December 3rd at 7:30p.m.
Sunday, December 4th at 2 p.m.
Friday, December 9th at 7:30p.m.
Saturday, December 10th at 7:30p.m.
Sunday, December 11th at 2 p.m.
Friday, December 16h at 7:30p.m.
Saturday, December 17th at 7:30p.m.
Sunday, December 18th at 2 p.m.

How Much: $15 adults and $12 students and seniors

FMI: 854-0065 or www.acorn-productions.org