The largest travesty and shame of the preview night performance of Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story on Wednesday is that it was not a full theatre. This ethereal story is a haunting and humorous tale both raw and heartwarming that does not fail to astound and should not be missed.
With original songs by Ben Caplan and Christian Barry, the story revolves around Chaya (Shaina Silver-Baird) and Chaim (Eric Da Costa), Jewish refugees from Romania who meet as they arrive in Canada. Their journey bears the weight of those who have lost loved ones, those who have fled violence, and those who seek a new home and are told that they do not belong.
The love story is narrated by The Wanderer (Ben Caplan), a mysterious, wise, and hilariously crude singing traveller.
Backed by a band of four, two of whom play Chaya and Chaim, Ben Caplan rips up the stage with his energy and powerful voice. He is captivating and seamlessly walks the line of humour and heart.
Shaina Silver-Baird’s performance holds similar gravitas as the charming and powerful Chaya. She brings tears, smiles, and laughter for the audience. Eric Da Costa rounds out the cast wonderfully as the loveable and silly Chaim.
One notable moment is a song about the Bible and oral tradition. In a fun, toe-tapping tune, The Wanderer posits that oral tradition is given to avoid “undue rigidity.” He then invites the audience to sing and clap along as the rousing melody and lyrics insist that “the good book is only a lens to focus a view,” which emphasizes the overall message of recognizing humanity and goodness in the world around you.
Another humorous section is when The Wanderer goes on a long list of euphemisms for sex as though the audience does not understand the hint he is trying to give. The list is extensive, descriptive, and laugh-out-loud funny.
Despite the hilarity, this production tackles the serious topics of loss, violence, and acceptance. Indeed, what makes one Canadian? A song near the end asks “where are we welcome and will we thrive?” This question is weighted on the hearts of refugees who wish to build for themselves and their children safety and prosperity while holding onto the cultures and traditions that give them life.
The most powerful element of Old Stock is the rich tapestry of Jewish tradition and music. There is a history, grounded-ness, hurt, and hope simultaneously present within the show that can only be attributed to the power of legacy. The legacy of Jewish communities of the past can speak to a modern audience through a show like this. The past is not isolated to a time period but it lives on in our memories, our traditions, our relationships, and our hope for the future.
Old Stock is a beautiful whirlwind of emotion. It is an incredibly tight show with enchanting music, captivating performances, and a heart that will carry you through the evening. This is a Broadway-caliber production that deserves to be sold out for every performance.
The show runs eighty minutes with no intermission. Content advisory includes cursing, illness, death, sex, cultural insensitivities, and Anti-Semitism. Tickets are available at Persephone Theatre Box Office and online at tickets.persephonetheatre.org. The show runs October 12-23, 2022.
