The Sabbath Girl: A New Musical

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When was the last time you saw a new play in which you cared about the characters and wanted them to end up together? The Sabbath Girl: A New Musical is that kind of show. A delightful and charming rom-com adapted by Cary Gitter from his 2020 play of the same name, The Sabbath Girl brings together two unlikely people from very different worlds, both at crossroads in their lives. With sensitive performances by Marilyn Caserta and Max Wolkowitz, lovely music by Neil Berg, graceful and emotional lyrics by Berg and Gittter, and a poignant story, The Sabbath Girl is a must-see this summer. The musical was conceived and directed by Joe Brancato, founding artistic director or Penguin Rep Theatre which premiered the musical in Stony Point, New York, who has given it a deft and perceptive staging.

Seth and Angie meet cute in this new riff on the rom-com genre. One Friday night, Seth Konig knocks on the door of his Manhattan neighbor, formerly Mr. Lee, only to find that Mr. Lee has moved out and Angie Mastrantoni has moved in. Seth, an Orthodox Jew, needs a favor as it is the Sabbath and he cannot turn on his air conditioner himself. At first hesitant as she is working from home, Angie, an Italian Catholic, agrees to help, becoming his Shabbos goy, that is, a Gentile who helps out an Orthodox Jew on Friday nights.

Both of them are at crossroads in their lives. Angie runs an independent art gallery on the Lower East Side and is having trouble meeting the bills. She has recently moved to a cheaper apartment when her rent went up. She is also still getting over a painful breakup with a fellow art student from Pratt who turned out to be two-timing her and she has sworn off men. At 32, Seth is two-years divorced after an unhappy three year arranged marriage to a childhood friend from his community. He is now ready for someone and it is shaking his faith.

While Angie flirts with Blake, a totally inappropriate hot shot artist (the sort of guy who always wears sunglasses even in dark rooms) who is considering letting her bring his hit Los Angeles show to New York, Seth and Angie become involved, also learning about each other’s cultures: Seth introduces her to Jewish traditions and she teaches him about modern art.

Unfortunately, Seth’s older sister Rachel with whom he runs the family knish shop on the Lower East Side is violently opposed to the relationship knowing the problems that they will have. She does everything in her power to break them up while Blake hits mercilessly on Angie though he has an on-again, off-again girlfriend.  When Rachel convinces Seth to move back to their community in Riverdale, Angie recalls her Grandmother Sophia’s advice: “Listen to your heart.” She also remembers what Seth has taught her that “Three things have a faint savor of the world to come: Sabbath, the sun and love.”

Brancato’s direction is unobtrusive, unpretentious and inconspicuous, bringing depth to all five performances. Max Wolkowitz gives a very sensitive performance as the conflicted Seth who is almost willing to give up his religious beliefs for true love. His Seth is both real and endearing. As Angie, Marilyn Caserta believably creates an independent woman who has thrown herself into her work in order to hide her broken heart but can hear the call of love. Rory Max Kaplan is amusing as the arrogant and egotistical artist who just might be the next big thing. As Seth’s older sister Rachel, Lauren Singerman though overbearing has her head in the right place if not her heart. Her arguments to break up Seth and Angie are well thought out and real. Diana DiMarzio as Italian Grandmother Sophia is another one of those wise, compassionate senior citizens who offers her broad life experience.

The score by Berg and Gitter has a great many winners, with pristine lyrics and an emotional feel. Angie and Seth’s “Off the Roof” has much good advice and humor on how to deal with difficult people. Sophia’s “Roseland” is a nostalgic memory of earlier times and earlier loves. Rachel’s “Something Bigger than Us” is a reminder about honoring the traditions that we were brought up in. The one quintet “Listen to Your Heart/Listen to Your Head” offers good advice to all of the characters. Both of Angie’s solos, “Sabbath, The Sun and Love” sung to Rachel and her reprise of “A Life in Art” alone in her apartment near the end of show are passionately delivered by Caserta.

The unit set by Christopher and Justin Swader cleverly morphs into two apartments, the knish shop, the art gallery and a wine bar using white brick walls which turn to reveal new elements. Gregory Gale’s understated costumes beautifully define the characters. The lighting by Jamie Roderick is subtle and appropriate. Kwamina Biney’s sound design is a marvel making every word of every song crystal clear, unlike most New York musical these days. The orchestrations by Alex Wise belie the fact that we are listing to only two instruments, Matthew Lowy on keyboard and Katie Chambers on cello.

The Sabbath Girl is one of those small cast musicals that not only seems bigger than it is (many of the off stage characters are very real) but also is very satisfying. The musical does not underestimate the problems that Angie and Seth will have but demonstrates that one’s heart can make everything all right. By any standard, The Sabbath Girl by Cary Gitter and Neil Berg is a winner.

The Sabbath Girl (through September 1, 2024)

Penguin Rep Theatre

59E59 Theaters, 59 East 59^th Street, in Manhattan

For tickets, call 646-892-7999 or visit http://www.59E59.org

Running time: one hour and 45 minutes without an intermission