Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT –  Children will listen: Emil Weinstein’s stage adaptation of BECOMING EVE is timely and bursts with conviction

• By drediman
• April 25, 2025
• No Comments

Last night at the Abrons Arts Center deep in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, I was able to catch up with the stage adaptation of Abby Chava Stein’s memoir Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman, which chronicles the former rabbi’s coming out as a transgender woman (“Chava”) to her very traditional Hasidic Jewish community, with the focal point being her plea for acceptance towards her staunchly traditional father “Tati”. Given the current administration’s open attack on the transgender community, the arrival of New York Theatre Workshop’s Off-Broadway production — deftly adapted for the stage by playwright Emil Weinstein and directed with firm intention by Tyne Rafaeli — couldn’t be more timely nor urgent (the current run concludes its limited engagement this weekend).

Despite being deeply steeped in Judaism and drawn to the idea of examining of Jewish texts to articulate transgenderism, Being Eve ultimately yields a rather universal message and sense of spirituality, with a focus on empathy and inclusivity. Especially potent is Chava’s notion that the world is capable of holding multitudes of truths and realities. Structurally, the play is a simmering build to some tense but balanced debates between father and daughter, which are tempered effectively by the perspective of a third character — that of Jonah, a progressive young rabbi (representing a middle ground of sorts) in whose cozy synagogue Chava and Tati’s encounter takes place. The play also delves into a series of informative and atmospheric flashbacks to give context to their passionate debates, wherein puppets are used as stand-ins for younger versions of Chava at various ages (voiced by Dorfman, who remains onstage as an onlooker upon these memories). Although I was initially skeptical about this theatrical choice, I was eventually won over by how seamlessly the puppetry was integrated into the drama and the sensitivity/artistry with which it was wrought.

The acting is superb throughout, particularly the trio of Tommy Dorfman (Chava), Richard Schiff (Tati), and Brandon Uranowitz (Jonah). Each navigates Weinstein’s wordy, ideologically-based dialogue skillfully, delivering performances of captivating conviction. In the central role of Chava, Dorfman gives a raw performance that provides a searing glimpse of the sometimes soul-crushing price of bravery. Schiff all but disappears into the role of Tati, imbuing the difficult character with unlikely charisma and an inherently commanding presence. Last but not least, Uranowitz is perfectly cast as the interjecting voice of reason in the room, bringing fire and a lived in quality to the role of Jonah. Also affecting as Chava’s mother is the lovely but underused Judy Kuhn, who seems to now specialize in such maternal roles of a certain age (she only appears onstage here during the flashback scenes).

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

BECOMING EVE
Off-Broadway, Play
New York Theatre Workshop at Abrons Arts Center
1 hour, 45 minutes (without an intermission)
Through April 27