JRT's 'Old Wicked Songs' set at MusicalFare
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Saul Elkin, seated, and Lou Colaiacovo star in the Jewish Repertory Theatre's "Old Wicked Songs," which begins June 7.

As the last show of its 2006-07 season, the Jewish Repertory Theatre will present "Old Wicked Songs" from June 7 through July 1 at MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Suite 810, Amherst.

"Old Wicked Songs" is the story of a young American pianist who is suffering from creative burnout and travels to Vienna to study accompaniment. He is assigned to a voice teacher, and they begin a contentious relationship that warms as the play progresses.

Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, "Old Wicked Songs" stars Saul Elkin as voice teacher Josef Mashkan and Lou Colaiacovo as student Stephen Hoffman.

"Both characters are denying who they are," Elkin said. "In the end though, they come to terms with themselves, with each other and their Jewishness."

Robert Schumann's "Dichterliebe" song cycle acts as the third character with Mashkan and Hoffman. Elkin noted that the songs of the cycle parallel different themes of friendship and love throughout the play.

The play is also set in 1986 on the eve of the presidential election of Kurt Waldheim, a former Nazi. This situation provides an underlying political theme to the play.

An added element is the student-teacher relationship, which Elkin and Colaiacovo know well.

Colaiacovo was a student of Elkin's in the University at Buffalo Theatre Department. He later was Elkin's teaching assistant as a graduate student.

"It's about love, understanding and the humor in life," Elkin said.

Performances of "Old Wicked Songs" will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 2 p.m. Sundays.

For more information or for tickets, call 688-4114, ext. 334 or visit www.jew ishrepertorytheatre.com.