“The People in the Picture”

Iris Rainer Dart (Book & Lyrics); Mike Stoller & Artie Butler (Music)

That there will be an eternity through our living in the memories of those we leave behind is the uplifting promise of the inspiring, engaging, and thoroughly entertaining musical, The People in the Picture, now in a regional premiere at San Jose’s 3 Below Theatres & Lounge.  Set in a duo-timeframe of pre-war to post-war Warsaw (1935-1946) and of 1977 New York, Iris Rainer Dart’s book traces and links three generations of a Jewish family’s women with roots in Yiddish theatre and movies and modern selves planted in TV script-writing and eventually a family memoir.  Through her lyrics and the music of Mike Stoller and Artie Butler, the sounds of klezmer memories ring in foot-tapping, soul-touching melodies while the words of the songs evoke the humor and pathos of an era almost extinguished by Nazi villains. 

Rating: 5 E

The People in the Picture continues through May 13, 2013 at 3 Below Theatres & Lounge, 288 South Second Street, San Jose.  Tickets are available online at https://3belowtheaters.com/.

Photo by Guggenheim Entertainment