Wherever I Go, I Carry Your Glance

The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk

There are a number of excellent plays and musicals in Chicago right now that examine the nature of art and look at the forces that inspire an artist to create. Well, add to that list playwright Daniel Jamieson’s gorgeous 85-minute play-with-music, now being given a lush production by Northlight Theatre. This is a breathtaking, lyrical biographical sketch of painter Marc Chagall and the love of his life, Bella Rosenfeld.

The play is passionately and poetically guided by Elizabeth Margolius, the Jeff Award-winning Director of Shattered Globe’s exciting LONDON ROAD. This love story is exquisitely enhanced with exuberant, stylized dances and athletic stage movement that, at times, seems to defy gravity. The production is filled with live, onstage music, composed by Ian Ross, and Musically Directed by Michael Mahler. The melodies and songs are supported and accompanied by the multitalented team of Mr. Mahler and Ms. Elisa Carlson on piano, violin, guitar, accordion and mandolin. One of the lovely, haunting songs in this production contains this lyric, that sums up the entire play:

                   “No one knows it, not even you

                    That wherever I go, I carry your glance.”

The love story that emerges and sparkles between Marc Chagall and Bella Rosenfeld is presented in cohesive, easy to digest bites that seem to almost mimic the artist’s Expressionistic style of painting. Bella first encounters Marc in 1919 at her friend’s home. It’s love at first sight for both of them. Bella is so filled with fondness that she surprises Marc on his birthday with a bouquet of flowers, as if it were a holiday. The couple feel as if their passionate relationship has given them wings to fly. The two soon discover that they are totally in sync, hearing the same music, seeing the same objects and dreaming the same dreams. Marc suddenly proposes to Bella, but then immediately departs their small, Russian town of Vitebsk to paint in Paris.

Eventually Marc returns home to marry Bella, but shortly after their wedding WWI breaks out. To escape the increased antisemitism, the young Jewish couple flees to St. Petersburg. While struggling to make ends meet, Marc and Bella suddenly find themselves caught up in the Russian Revolution. But just when it appears that the world might become more accepting, prejudice resurfaces and WWII begins. They find that Vitebsk has changed and more anti-Jewish attacks are evident everywhere. The couple must now find another place for new beginnings, where they can be free to dream their dreams.

The two leading actors in this production could not possibly be better! Handsome and gifted Jack Cahill-Lemme, returning home to Chicago, after his National Tour of MOULIN ROUGE!, gives an incredible, mesmerizing performance as Marc Chagall. His singing voice, his ability to move and dance—in fact Jack’s very essence is forever and always the epitome of this early 20th century Jewish artist. And he is matched by the hauntingly beautiful Emma Rosenthal as Bella. With a vocal range that would be the envy of most Lyric Opera performers, as well as dramatic talent that hits all the right marks, with special bright moments of biting comedy, Ms. Rosenthal is simply magnificent. Emma has had featured roles in Chicago productions of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, WEST SIDE STORY and (my favorite performance) PETER AND THE STARCATCHER. But both talented actors, like Elisa Carlson and Michael Mahler, are all making their Northlight Theatre debuts. One can only hope that we’ll be seeing more of these fine actor/singers again in leading roles around Chicagoland.

And the shear look of this production is breathtakingly beautiful, as well. Scott Penner’s stark, sparse, deceptively simple Scenic Design makes wonderful use of the entire Northlight stage. Paired with a stunningly brilliant Lighting Design by Charles Cooper, that illuminates the moon and adds a touch of color to a basically neutral environment, the two designers forge a solid artistic partnership. Add to this duo Willow James’ spot-on Sound and Rachel Lambert’s carefully constructed monochromatic Costume Design, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a delicious one-act with music and movement that always seems to echo the unforgettable lyrics of “No One Knows It”: Wherever I Go, I Carry Your Glance.      

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented September 5-October 6 by Northlight Theatre, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the theatre box office, by calling 847-673-6300, or by going to www.northlight.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.