"In the Maze of Our Own Lives" at Traveling Jewish Theatre

Traveling Jewish Theatre is presenting its final 34th season production with the world premiere of Corey Fisher’s “In the Maze of Our Own Lives” running through November 13th. Corey Fisher who also directed his drama has wonderfully recreated the conflicts, passion of the actors and directors who formed The Group Theatre from 1931 through 1939. This group presented a new art form for the theatre. Their intention was to form a new kind of realistic theatre focusing on naturalistic acting a la Stanislavsky and socially relevant plays. They believed in a forceful and highly discipline artistry. Later this group was target of the infamous McCarthy hearing in the 50’s. This is a play for people who love theatre and theatre history.


The Group Theatre produced many important American playwrights, most notably Clifford Odets and Irwin Shaw. There most successful hit was the 1937-38 Broadway hit Clifford Odets “Golden Boy” starring Luther Adler and Francis Farmer. Many famous actors came from the group including John Garfield, Will Geer, Lee J. Cobb, Morris Carnovsky and Howard Da Silva. I knew these persons when I worked in films. There are snippet from Odet’s “Waiting for Lefty”, “Awake and Sing” and “Paradise Lost” also.

“In the Maze of Our Own Lives” is veneration covering the life of the Group over an almost three hour timeline. We see personality conflicts, passions of the actors and directors on presenting a new art form for the theatre and the internal struggles over the technique and artistic styles of the Group. The dialogue is sharp, clever and very realistic.

Director Corey Fischer has also assembled a great cast to present this intriguing production. Michael Navarra’s is excellent as the garrulous academic Harold Clurman the co-founder of The Group. Joshua Roberts gives an absorbing performance as Clifford Odets. He morphs successfully from a young independent rebel writer to a person who capitulates to the lure of Hollywood money. Galen Murphy-Hoffman exemplifies the magnetism that made Luther Adler a star. Cassidy Brown is charismatic as Morris Carnovsky and composer Kurt Weill and even a scene as a madcap borscht belt emcee. David Mendelsohn gives a polish performance as the neurotic Lee Strasberg also a co-founder of The Group. Sarah Overman provides a magnetic portrayal of the vain and restless diva Stella Adler. Melissa Quine exudes naïve idealism as actress Phoebe Brand and a world weary actress Frances Farmer. Nancy Carlin is excellent as the practical and dedicated Cheryl Crawford a co-founder of The Group.

Fischer’s vibrant staging is heightened theatricality by the staff of Citizen Film. Every time a character is introduced, a photo of the real life counterpart is shown on screen in the background. Sam Ball’s projections have moving backdrops of period traffic and crowd scenes and even several newsreels of the period.
“In the Maze of Our Own Lives” runs through November 13 at the Traveling Jewish Theatre, 470 Florida Street. San Francisco. For tickets call 800-838-3006 or on line at www.tjt-sf.org