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Reviewed by Carol Kaufman Segal
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It is 1945 in Paris, France,
following the end of World War II. Elizabeth Wolf Pilgrin (Gillian Doyle),
is a Jewish woman from a very wealthy family, the only member to survive
the concentration camp, Dachau. She is now on her way home to her much
younger husband, Sanislaus "Stan" Pilgrin (Jon Woodward Kirby) and a
daughter, Fabienne, "Fabi" Wolf (Kellie Matteson), from a previous
relationship. Nervous about returning, she first seeks the advise of Dr.
Pierre Le Bigan (David Hunt Stafford), the father of her daughter who
still cares for her and wants to help her in any way he can. Pierre is
aware that Elizabeth's husband and daughter believe her to be dead and
have been trying to get him to declare her legally so in order to be able
to acquire her huge fortune. |
- Gillian Doyle - Kellie Matteson
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- She is apprehensive about her return, does
not look the same, and decides to have a plastic surgeon change her
face to look "even more Jewish." When she meets Stan and Fabi they do
not recognize her. But to them, she does resemble "Elizabeth" somewhat
and they decide to ask her to join them in a scheme for a percentage
of money they hope to receive; that is for her to pretend to be
Elizabeth. Against Pierre's advise, she accepts the bizarre plan
because she is still madly in love with Stan and hopes to win him
back. Elizabeth thereby becomes "a woman impersonating a woman
impersonating herself."
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Discovering that Stan and "Fabi"
are having an affair, she realizes that they are ruthless and care nothing
about her. They are only interested in obtaining her money. In this twisty
and turning plot, the real schemer is finally revealed. Return From The
Ashes is based on a novel by Hubert Monteilhet. It was made into a film in
1965 starring Maxmilian Schell, Samantha Eggar and Ingrid Thulin. The
stage play is written by Brad Geagley. Stuart Howard directs this worthy
cast that includes Perry Hart (Inspector) and Don Moss (Police Captain
Guillaume Simiane).
The lovely set was created by
Jeff G. Rack. Return From the Ashes is playing Wednesdays through
Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, through April 24, 2011, at Theatre 40
located at the Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 Moreno Drive on the Beverly
Hills High School Campus. For reservations, call (310) 364-0535, or online
at www.theatre40.org |
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Photo: Ed Krieger
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