A Play on the Issues of Chasing One's Dreams
“I am Asher Lev” is an intriguing cultural story of an aspiring young artist who must cope with parental condescension to break the standard set within the character’s Hasidic upbringing. The self-titled main character possesses talent as a painter who demonstrates his dedication to pursue ‘the road less traveled’ as he makes a break in the infancy stages as an urban talent.
In the show, his resilience shows grit in learning to handle the fears and early maturation that setting out on a creative career in the ambitious struggle that the New York art scene demands.
The lead actor Ari Brand, 28, plans to make full use of this performance experience since several of his previous acting roles including “Broadway Bound”, directed by Jason Alexander of Seinfeld, showed promise but were canceled not long after premiere. Also part two in the series, “The Neil Simon Plays” from 2007, was shelved due to several factors. However anyone who has the slightests interest in playwrights and such would be hard miss to not atleast look up not only Shakespeare but also David Mamet, Tennessee Williams and Neil Simon.
Ari Brand's only more reckognized role includes “Black Tie,” last year’s off Broadway which received large acclaim with him casted as the show’s bridegroom in the tale of a wedding gone slightly amiss.
His current play showing at the Westside Theater, marks an elevated status for the second appearance of “I am Asher Lev” as it began performances earlier this year to great reviews at a theater in New Haven, Conn.