By Eva Trieger
SOLANA BEACH, California — “It was the perfect training ground” said Jordan Bennett, reminiscing about the Borscht Belt. Cutting his teeth on entertainment as Social Director of Activities and emceeing shows at the predominantly Jewish Catskills resorts, this singer/comedian learned from the best…sometimes. Other times, he learned what not to do after observing a joke that fell flatter than a Passover sponge cake with too few eggs.
Born in Brooklyn and coming of age in Far Rockaway, Bennett, went “to the country” for work. The experience was heady, and Bennett reported to me in a phone interview, that while he began as a singer, he soon created a self-contained act where he compiled original and tried and true bits.
Ever since the age of ten, Bennett enjoyed musicals, acting and singing. He enjoyed teleplays and screenplays, virtually anything to do with theater and song. His musical prowess may be genetic, as his aunt was a professional singer. The Catskills gave Bennett some schtick, but an audition brought him to Broadway!
Auditioning for Shenandoah turned out to be the golden ticket, and Bennett’s theatrical career was launched. He performed for audiences at the Goodspeed Opera House, an historic Victorian theater in East Haddam, Connecticut. When queried about venues he’s preferred, Bennett commented that he’s played to packed houses of 2,000 and audiences of far fewer numbers, but what he likes best is playing for “enthusiastic audiences.”
Following his stint in Shenandoah, Bennett heeded the call of the Wild West. In the late 1980s he was cast in Les Miserables, adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel, as Jean Valjean, his favorite role to date. This show opened at the Old Shubert Theater in Century City. This large venue of 2,100 seats was demolished in 2002, but had boasted many other Broadway shows including A Chorus Line, Cats and Evita.
When asked if he had a favorite musical writer, Bennett quickly tossed me, “Stephen Sondheim. Nobody can touch him.” What about a favorite show recently enjoyed? In the Heights Bennett dubbed “groundbreaking.” He told this reporter that he enjoyed the innovative use of rap and that as an operetta, is was original and inspiring.
Having located a Youtube of Jordan Bennett singing opera, I asked if he spoke other languages in addition to English. He replied that he had learned the lyrics in Italian, but only after “one Chianti too many” did he become fluent in Italian!
Bennett told me that he is proud of his Jewish heritage and recalled his bar mitzvah. He has performed in a cantorial capacity, singing at a monthly service and, on occasion, for High Holy days at the Creative Arts Temple in Los Angeles. His current show is focused on the renowned Rothschild family and depicts how European Jews were regarded in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Rothschild and Sons is a musical that chronicles the life of Mayer Amschel Rothschild of Main, Germany. Like other court Jews of his day, he was a money changer, one of the only avenues open to Jews. However, what set him apart from his landsmen is that he amassed great wealth, and distributed it among his five sons, whom he dispatched to all of the major banking centers in Europe. Not only was the senior Rothschild shrewd but also controlling, cultivating a less than harmonious relationship with his sons.
The staged reading at North Coast Repertory Theater in Solana Beach includes a masterful cast to complement Bennett’s expertise. Flexing their thespian muscles are John Herzog, Christopher Williams, Susan Denaker, and Tom Zohar. Jeffrey Moss is directing and Timothy McKnight is musical director. Not a main stage production, this special event will only run for two nights, September 22 and 23 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at northcoastrep.org.
Providing further insight and nuance, the Center for Jewish Culture is presenting Sheldon Harnick: A Conversation & Celebration at the JCC on Sept. 21st at 6:30 pm. Harnick, prolific Broadway lyricist, and writer of the Fiddler on the Roof lyrical book, will discuss his life and career with Artistic Director Arthur Mittelman. The two will explore Rothschild and Sons, and give attendees points to ponder while seeing the show. Tickets may be purchased at the JCC box office.
*
Trieger is a freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com