Underneath it all
"I thought it was devastating," she continues, "the isolation of the character, and his desire to do something, to make a mark on the world. It made sense, at the end of the year, when we're evaluating the political situation in the country and our personal goals or achievements."
The play follows the librarian's journey as he attempts to solve a mystery. Because it's a one-man show, it has the feel of a story being told from one person to another. A series of coincidences, odd facts and pieces of evidence combine to arrive at the myth of the Wandering Jew who, because he mistreated Jesus on the way to the crucifixion, was condemned to forever wander the Earth. The librarian comes to believe the myth is true, a conclusion that occurs when his facts add up - or don't.
"I would like the audience to go with the scenario of the play and talk about it afterward, maybe argue," says Ms. Mileaf. "Richard and I were talking about where the librarian is in the play. There are moments in the story when he's not making sense. Realities collide - it's memories versus reality."
The character of the librarian, who is at turns gregarious and shy, funny and tragic, revealing and reticent, requires a certain kind of performer, Ms. Mileaf says. "Richard is a really good actor. It takes that to bring life to the character - he's so psychologically complex. The actor has to have a gift.
And the excitement builds. I'm sorry I have a one track mind.
The play follows the librarian's journey as he attempts to solve a mystery. Because it's a one-man show, it has the feel of a story being told from one person to another. A series of coincidences, odd facts and pieces of evidence combine to arrive at the myth of the Wandering Jew who, because he mistreated Jesus on the way to the crucifixion, was condemned to forever wander the Earth. The librarian comes to believe the myth is true, a conclusion that occurs when his facts add up - or don't.
"I would like the audience to go with the scenario of the play and talk about it afterward, maybe argue," says Ms. Mileaf. "Richard and I were talking about where the librarian is in the play. There are moments in the story when he's not making sense. Realities collide - it's memories versus reality."
The character of the librarian, who is at turns gregarious and shy, funny and tragic, revealing and reticent, requires a certain kind of performer, Ms. Mileaf says. "Richard is a really good actor. It takes that to bring life to the character - he's so psychologically complex. The actor has to have a gift.
And the excitement builds. I'm sorry I have a one track mind.