Reviewer: Howard Steven Frydman aka “The Howard”
Production: 2.5 Minute Ride
Theater: The Hartford Stage
Playwright: Lisa Kron
Directed by: Zoë Golub-Sass
The Howard Says- “An Inspiring Epic Journey of Heart & Soul”
As many know- I have been so impressed this year by our Connecticut theaters of late who have produced productions that have inspired, lifted our souls and have genuinely brought a tear to one’s eye. Brava to them all! As I have often stated, I am so proud of the Hartford Stage for providing theatergoers “highly charged emotional productions, dynamic acting, and direction par excellence,” for this day I have witnessed a most brave and inspiring journey that touches both heart and soul in their current production of – “2.5 Minute Ride.” Though I write theater reviews, there are times, when I must single out a production that singularly achieves greatness, by not only touching our heartstrings but provides impactful insight from our past. This my friends is “2.5 Minute Ride” a courageous tale of a Jewish family revisiting the horrors of the NAZI deathcamps.” My friends, this final 60th Anniversary Season production dedicated to defining “family and belonging,” from Hartford Stage is a most exceptional piece of theater by Playwright Lisa Kron, starring actress Lena Kaminsky as “Lisa” in a one-person production running through June 23rd at 50 Church Street, Harford, Connecticut. A legacy of great live theater is here and now!!
Live theater, at its best, makes you think, offers shared experiences, provides insight and solutions and heroically tackles subject matters such as antisemitism and its continued cancer throughout society. In fact, this year’s annual Tony Awards has two nominees that tackles antisemitism – the revival of Kander and Ebb’s musical “Cabaret” and with a total of three nominations, including “Best New Play” – “Prayer for the French Republic” about antisemitism in France. To these most exceptional productions we now add “2.5 Minute Ride” as a “must see” production of a journey back in time, and a time full of despair.
“2.5” Minute Ride” which premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in 1996, intersperses between, three momentous moments in the Kron family, via an on-stage slide projector, depicting not the actual retrospective “slide” photos but “click after click”, various hues and colors onto the stage’s stark cardboard background. As each “photo” goes by, Lisa, (Lena Kaminsky) informs us she is making a special retrospective videotape of her family, revisits several recollections, some funny, many heart-wrenching including, an upcoming wedding of her brother to his internet Dutch bride, the family’s annual visit to the Sandusky, Ohio Amusement Park and rollercoaster, and lastly the journey, the ride, of her then 15 year old father, who was part of a program to get Jewish Children out of 1937 Germany. Within the production Lisa accounts how her father’s family learns how his parents perished in the Litzmannstadt ghetto and how they eventually return to Poland to not only revisit his childhood home but the horrors of the Auschwitz deathcamps nearby.
I am stirred this day, holding my breath, tears from this common story, for this production so closely relives not only my father’s own path from the Nazi Death Camps and his journey as a survivor, but that of so many other “survivors” as depicted on stage by Playwright Lisa Kron, I once asked my father, Jack Max Frydman, a survivor of the Holocaust, if he wanted to return to his home in Poland and revisit the camps- “why”? he would respond- “why”? This current production asks this same question. Should one revisit these horrors- returning to see these atrocities of genocide of over six million European Jews during World War II and Nazi Germany. I am strong in my belief, that history often times repeats itself, and we must constantly keep reminding ourselves, if we are not vigilant, history will repeat itself – that’s why!
As stated, my father Jack Frydman was one such survivor- here I sit, a son of a survivor, at Hartford Stage, a noted security guard at front entrance, I have asked myself, why am I here? I know the story and answer personally, it’s because we All should NEVER forget. I am so proud, proud, proud that Hartford Stage is presenting this oh so powerful production of “2.5 Minute Ride” -we ALL should never forget! I want to give applaud and a standing ovation to actor Lena Kaminsky as “Lisa” you provide a most brilliantly acted performance in a production that is highly emotional for so many. Yes, a vivid, highly personal theatrical event that is not to be missed. I continue to be deeply emotional over “2.5 Minute Ride” and so proud of Hartford Stage Artistic Director Melia Bensussen, Playwright Lisa Kron, and Director Zoë Golub-Sass for this truly inspiring epic journey of heart and soul. Connecticut theater at its finest.
“2.5 Minute Ride” will run Thursday, May 30, 2024 through Sunday, June 23, 2024. Tuesday through Thursday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 8:00 p.m.; matinee performances on Saturdays, Sundays, and a select Wednesday begin at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets for “2.5 Minute Ride” start at $30. Discounts are available for students and groups. Groups wanting to create a special occasion out of their visit can reserve a private space at the theater to enjoy a reception before or after the performance. Email boxoffice@hartfordstage.org for more information about pricing and availability
There are three ways to purchase tickets: online at HartfordStage.org, by phone at 860-527-5151, or in-person through the box office at 50 Church Street. The theater advises audiences to be careful and not purchase tickets through any other website. Third party re-sellers will try to sell tickets for twice the price or more. If you have any doubts or questions, please contact the Hartford Stage box office directly. Hartford Stage does not charge any additional fees for tickets.
Howard Steven Frydman aka “The Howard” is General Manager and Executive Director of BATV – Channels 5, 95 & 96 and a member of the CCC. Please feel free to contact Mr. Frydman with your thoughts and ideas at TheHoward24@gmail.com.
The Howard - On Stage & Screen Reviews 