A GREAT PLACE TO READ ABOUT GREAT THEATRE · APRIL – MAY 2024 VOLUME 8 / ISSUE 4
Hello!
Welcome back to the Belfry and our production of The Lehman Trilogy, the 2022 Tony Award winner for Best Play by Stefano Massini and adapted by Ben Powers.
Playing the monumental roles are Brian Markinson, Celine Stubel, and Nigel Shawn Williams.
Brian starred with Celine in our 2015 production of David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow. Celine has starred in many Belfry productions including Venus in Fur, Proud, and most recently, our 2022 production of Kindred.
Making his Belfry acting debut is Nigel Shawn Williams. He brilliantly directed the Belfry productions of Serving Elizabeth by Marcia Johnson (2021) and Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel (2022).
You can catch Brian in the Netflix series, Painkiller, and Nigel is starring in the new TV series Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.
As always, we look forward to seeing you at the theatre.
Land Acknowledgement
The Belfry Theatre is on the land of the People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. The people have been keepers of this land for millennia and we offer them our respect and gratitude for our presence on this territory.
B4 Play
SATURDAY, APRIL 20 AT 11 AM
BMO Studio Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Avenue
Our live talk show hosted by CBC Radio’s Gregor Craigie and featuring artists from the upcoming show, along with experts from the community, has been designed to provide insight into each Mainstage production.
Guests will include Michael Shamata (Belfry Artistic Director & Director of The Lehman Trilogy) and Michael R. King (PhD, CFA, Lansdowne Chair in Finance, Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria).
Each event is held the Saturday before Opening, is free to attend, live streamed on Facebook, and is available as a podcast on our website.
B4Play is ASL Interpreted.
is produced four times per year and can be found at branches of the Greater Victoria Public Library, the Belfry and online at issuu.com/belfrytheatre. If you would like a digital copy please drop us a line at hello@belfry.bc.ca. Join
facebook.com/belfrytheatre
The Lehman Trilogy is generously supported by
Tickets 250-385-6815 / tickets.belfry.bc.ca
vimeo.com/belfrytheatre
twitter.com/belfrytheatre (In-person + Online)
BELFRY THEATRE
1291 GLADSTONE AVENUE
VICTORIA, BC
V8T 1G5
WWW.BELFRY.BC.CA
Upstage is supported by
Michael Shamata and Gregor Craigie Photo by Don Craig
Us
instagram.com/belfrytheatre
PLAYWRIGHT BEN POWER ON GOING BEYOND JEWISH TROPES IN ‘THE LEHMAN TRILOGY’
BAVARIAN IMMIGRANT HENRY LEHMAN STANDS ON A COLD WOODEN DOCK AT NEW YORK HARBOR IN 1844, “A CIRCUMCISED JEW WITH ONLY ONE PIECE OF LUGGAGE.”
Lehman is soon joined by his brothers, Emmanuel and Mayer. Together, they eventually establish a brokerage firm selling cotton in Montgomery, Ala. They go on to create a bank in New York, and invest in oil, iron and trains. In 2008, the corporation that their descendants have created suffers a cataclysmic bankruptcy. It has affected the global economy to this day.
As the play unfolds, the Lehman brothers’ Jewish practice is diluted over the generations. Initially, they often utter “Baruch Hashem” (“Thanks to God”) and observe Shabbat and the full laws of shivah, but by the time their grandsons have taken over the business, their shivah ritual has been diminished to just three minutes of silence, so that their company can continue trading.
When Stefano Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy premiered at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan, the play was nine hours long. It was written like an epic poem, with no suggestions as to which characters spoke what lines.
Enter playwright Ben Power, who in 2016 was charged with adapting the show into what would become
a three-hour production with only three actors, performing dozens of characters.
“It’s the story of a family, but also of the history of capitalism from the 1840s to the present day, and how the structures we live in in the world were built,” says the British playwright.
Power, 40, who was raised in the Church of England, discovered that Massini had a fascinating, if unexpected, Jewish background. Massini, a Roman Catholic, was nine when his father saved the life of a Jewish employee who had collapsed on his factory’s floor. The worker told Massini that he was Jewish, and because Massini had saved his life, he considered him an honorary Jew, and wanted to know what he could do for his boss in return for saving him. When Massini complained that young Stefano was a terror, the employee said he would enroll Stefano in his synagogue’s religious school. Stefano studied in an Italian school in the morning and at the synagogue in the afternoon. He was a bit of a hellraiser, once opining that the 10 plagues of Egypt were unfair punishments to the Egyptians. In the play, Herbert Lehman, one of the descendants, says the same thing to the Rabbi at his Hebrew school.
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Photo by Mark Douet
Massini began his directing career with a production of The Diary of Anne Frank in 2002 and later with a play he wrote titled The End of Shavuot.
“Massini had this very close knowledge of Judaism, but he was also an outsider; he was deeply in it but not in it,” Power said. “The play deals not only with the Lehmans’ Judaism, but also with their status as outsiders. And as a non-Jew, non-American telling this story, I also felt like an outsider.”
Power and director Sam Mendes worked with Orthodox Rabbi Daniel Epstein of the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in London, who had already served as an adviser on a production of Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Angels in America.”
Epstein helped the actors with certain pronunciations. “They were saying everything in a modern Hebrew pronunciation, but a Jew from Rimpar, Germany, in 1844 is not going to speak with a modern Israeli accent. It would be an Ashkenazi Jewish pronunciation with a very thick German accent.”
Was Power concerned that the show might provoke stereotypes about Jews and money?
“We talked about it with the rabbi. The Lehmans were Jews, and they ran a bank. There’s no getting away from that,” he said, “but I don’t think the show deals in tropes. I think that their Jewishness and their financial acumen are two separate issues. I’m confident that the play is responsible in terms of the story it tells.”
Cast & Creatives
Why I Chose This Play
I sat in the Belfry lobby to read this script—and couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t stop until I finished it. Why—? Because:
• Stefano Massini and Ben Power have shaped this story in a way that grabs your intellect and your imagination;
• it has momentum. It’s a sweeping saga—years and years and world changing events go flying by with relentless motion;
• it is an indictment of capitalism. In the years between 1844 and 2008, the play takes us from the America of opportunity and enterprise to the America of “the one percent;” from the world of craft and product to the world of zeroes, zeroes, zeroes—with nothing but paper to show for it.
• it is a celebration of theatre in its purest form: actors on a stage telling a story—and keeping their audience engaged and excited.
• and it’s a showcase (and a challenge—!) for three exceptional actors;
• and I love the humanity of the play: the idea of the original three brothers relating the tale of the Lehman Brothers business—from its humble beginnings to a world of greed and corruption they could never have envisioned—or condoned—!
—Michael Shamata, Artistic Director
Reprinted from So Cal Jewish News
Nigel Shawn Williams EMMANUEL LEHMAN
Brian Markinson HENRY LEHMAN
Celine Stubel MAYER LEHMAN
Ben Power ADAPTOR
Michael Shamata DIRECTOR
Stefano Massini PLAYWRIGHT
Tobin Stokes COMPOSER & SOUND DESIGNER
Leigh Ann Vardy LIGHTING DESIGNER
Treena Stubel ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Meghan Froebelius ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Jennifer Swan STAGE MANAGER
Shawn Kerwin SET & COSTUME DESIGNER
LIVE & VIRTUAL EVENTS
Our round-up of events happening at the theatre over the next four weeks.
B4PLAY (IN-PERSON + ONLINE)
BMO Studio, 1291 Gladstone Avenue
SATURDAY, APRIL 20 AT 11 AM
Our live talk show hosted by CBC Radio’s Gregor Craigie and featuring artists from the upcoming show, along with experts from the community, has been designed to provide insight into each Mainstage production.
Each event is held the Saturday before Opening, is free to attend, live streamed on Facebook, and is available as a podcast on our website.
Guests will include Michael Shamata (Belfry Artistic Director & Director of The Lehman Trilogy) and Michael R. King (PhD, CFA, Lansdowne Chair in Finance, Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria).
B4Play is ASL Interpreted.
To reserve your free tickets, please call our Box Office 250-385-6815.
THE FLAME
MONDAY, APRIL 29 AT 7 PM (DOORS OPEN AT 6:30 PM)
Award-winning actor and one of the creators of Mom’s the Word, Deborah Williams, is bringing the hit storytelling event, The Flame, back to the Belfry.
The Flame is a storytelling series that features real people, sharing their personal true stories in front of a live audience. Since its inception in 2009, The Flame has flourished and grown into a wildly popular event that has packed venues in Vancouver and Victoria.
The evening features storytellers Thembelihile Moyo, Nathan Hellner-Mestelman, Jessica Van der Veen and more.
Tickets are available online or call the box office (250-385-6815).
TALKBACK THURSDAY (In Person)
THURSDAY, MAY 9 FOLLOWING THE PERFORMANCE
On the third Thursday performance during the run of each show, most (usually all) of the actors return to the stage to answer your questions and provide insight into the play you have just experienced. These Q & A sessions last approximately 20 minutes.
VOCALEYE
SUNDAY, MAY 12 AT 2 PM (IN PERSON EVENT)
For patrons with low or no vision, we offer one VocalEye performance during most Mainstage productions. Trained Audio Describers provide descriptions of the visual elements of the show, allowing people with low vision to enjoy the
Belfry Librarian
The wonderful librarians at the Greater Victoria Public Library have compiled a list of books and videos to help you get even more out of our production of The Lehman Trilogy
All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles (2021)
The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream by David M. Rubenstein (2021)
Americana: A 400-Year History of America Capitalism by Bhu Srinivasan (2017)
The Big Short [DVD] by Adam McKay (2016)
Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream by Alissa Quart (2023)
City of Seduction: The History of New York City During the Civil War by John Strausbaugh (2016)
Devil’s Casino: Friendship, Betrayal, and the High Stakes Games Played Inside Lehman Brothers by Vicky Ward (2010)
Empire of Cotton: A Global History by Sven Beckert (2014)
Flee North: A Forgotten Hero and the Fight for Freedom in Slavery’s Borderland by Scott Shane (2023)
A History of the United States in Five Crashes by Scott Nations (2017)
The Lehman Trilogy: A Novel by Stefano Massini (2020)
The Money Kings: The Epic Story of the Jewish Immigrants Who Transformed Wall Street and Shaped Modern America by Daniel Schulman (2023)
Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing by Jacob Goldstein (2020)
Street Freak: Money and Madness at Lehman Brothers: A Memoir by Jared Dillian (2011)
Taming the Street: The Old Guard, the New Deal, and FDR’s Fight to Regulate American Capitalism by Diana B. Henriques (2023)
The Wolf of Wall Street [DVD] by Martin Scorsese (2014)
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SPOTLIGHT ON SUPPORTERS:
Avril & Bob Tyrrell
Avril and Bob Tyrrell are longtime Belfry patrons and supporters. “We go way back,” Bob remembers, “though I wasn’t always an annual subscriber. There was a time when I bought tickets only to the plays, I thought we would enjoy. But since becoming season subscribers, we haven’t been disappointed in a production in a very long time.”
Supporting local artistic and cultural industries in general and the Belfry Theatre in particular has been a no-brainer for the Tyrrells. “In my opinion, the Belfry Theatre is one of Victoria’s many jewels,” says Bob. “The building itself is a true gem. There’s not a bad seat in the house, the renovated lobby is lovely, and the staff and volunteers are always warm and welcoming. And artistically speaking, with the focus on accessible Canadian theatre, Michael Shamata and his staff seem to be doing everything right.”
Bob founded Orca Books in 1984 as a publisher of regional history, biography, and outdoor guidebooks until he more or less stumbled into the world of children’s books. Among many awards, Orca was named publisher of the year and won a Governor General’s Award. The company gradually built an excellent reputation in the school and library markets in both Canada and the US as one of North America’s finest publishers of books for young readers.
Before retiring from Orca in 2017, Bob served on the Belfry’s Board of Directors and enjoyed the experience. But ‘the play’s the thing,’ isn’t it?
“We both love live performance,” Bob says. “I’m passionate about both theatre and jazz (not to mention, flyfishing and single malt whisky). When Orca moved into the US market, I felt very lucky indeed to have an obligation to visit New York a couple of times a year. I would always find time for a play or two, either on-Broadway or off-, and always an evening at the Village Vanguard jazz club.”
Avril was a nurse at the Jubilee Hospital for her entire career. After stints in many departments, she was head nurse of the operating theatres for many years. When their daughter Alexandra was born, Avril transferred to diabetes outpatient education, a somewhat less stressful environment, where she remained until she took early retirement in 2007.
When Avril and Bob recently updated their wills, Bob included a legacy gift to the theatre in his document. “From my own experience, I have a very good idea regarding just how tough it can be to survive in an entertainment market so dominated by our neighbours to the south. And adding a legacy gift to my will was so easy… simple but very satisfying. Long live the Belfry!”
For information on supporting the theatre including joining the Belfry Legacy Circle, please contact Susan Stevenson, Director of Development at susan.stevenson@belfry.bc.ca
250-385-6815
Tickets
/ tickets.belfry.bc.ca
Avril & Bob Tyrrell in St. Kitts
Calendar
The Lehman Trilogy
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
April 23 – May 19, 2024
Tuesdays – Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Wednesday Matinees at 1 pm (May 1, 8 and 15)
Saturday Matinees at 1 pm
Sunday Matinees at 2 pm
Audience Engagement Schedule
B4PLAY (In-person + Online)
Saturday, April 20 at 11 am
TALKBACK THURSDAY (In Person)
Thursday, May 9 following the performance.
COMMUNITY THEATRE NIGHTS
Friday, May 10 & 17
VOCALEYE
Sunday, May 12 at 2 pm (in-person event)
How to buy tickets
By telephone
250 385 6815
You transform people’s lives:
Emerging Artist Enhancement Program—offering paid apprenticeships to young directors, designers, and other up-and-coming theatre practitioners in our community.
Arts Leadership Training Program—providing seminars, internships, and networks for future arts leaders from marginalized communities.
Belfry 101—introducing high school students to the world of professional theatre, and examining the social issues explored in the season’s productions.
You create new plays:
New Play Development—commissioning new plays and facilitating their development through dramaturgical feedback, workshops and play readings.
New Incubator Project—offering space and support to local artists and theatre companies exploring new areas of creative activity.
Creators’ Circle—providing local playwrights and theatre makers with constructive feedback and an artistic community.
You ensure accessibility:
Pay-What-You-Want—flexible prices for subscriptions and single tickets makes it possible for everyone to attend—and broadens our audience demographic.
VocalEye Performances—describing the action and the visual elements of our productions makes the Belfry accessible to those with low or no vision.
Hearing Assist Devices—using either our infra-red or our new loop hearing assist system makes our productions accessible to those who are hard of hearing.
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