A Kreutzer Sonata

by Larry Rinkel

FULL-LENGTH (80-85 minutes, no intermission).
David Lindenbaum, a freshman Jewish piano major, finds himself in a conflicted relationship with Elena Guerriero, the beautiful but volatile Italian-American violinist with whom he has been chosen to perform Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata and who is unwilling to take his religious beliefs seriously. Along the way he must also deal with a lovable but crass roommate, his...

FULL-LENGTH (80-85 minutes, no intermission).
David Lindenbaum, a freshman Jewish piano major, finds himself in a conflicted relationship with Elena Guerriero, the beautiful but volatile Italian-American violinist with whom he has been chosen to perform Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata and who is unwilling to take his religious beliefs seriously. Along the way he must also deal with a lovable but crass roommate, his no-nonsense piano teacher, his doctrinaire mother, and his apparently cold and distant father. Can this Orthodox Jewish student find a way to survive in the modern secular world?

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A Kreutzer Sonata

Recommended by

  • Peter Fenton: A Kreutzer Sonata

    I adore this play. Several other recommenders have noted it's constructed like a symphony, and I have to agree: the unique, classical music-esque structure to this piece heightens its impact. Having grown up very religious myself and coming of age in college trying to figure out where I end and the rest of the world and my own religion conviction begins, I deeply resonate with David's arc through the piece. His closing monologue is beautiful. Rinkel has drawn very human characters that manage to also get at larger, abstract points about humanity and religious identity. Excellent work!

    I adore this play. Several other recommenders have noted it's constructed like a symphony, and I have to agree: the unique, classical music-esque structure to this piece heightens its impact. Having grown up very religious myself and coming of age in college trying to figure out where I end and the rest of the world and my own religion conviction begins, I deeply resonate with David's arc through the piece. His closing monologue is beautiful. Rinkel has drawn very human characters that manage to also get at larger, abstract points about humanity and religious identity. Excellent work!

  • Morey Norkin: A Kreutzer Sonata

    In A Kreutzer Sonata, Larry Rinkel has crafted an extraordinary composition. Not a musical nor simply a play with music, but a play that flows like a beautiful symphony, where themes are carried across movements, each with its own tempo and dynamics. Rinkel skillfully orchestrates plot lines related to family, faith, cultural identity, and acceptance with completely engaging characters. What a wonderful evening of theater can be achieved in the hands of the right director/conductor!

    In A Kreutzer Sonata, Larry Rinkel has crafted an extraordinary composition. Not a musical nor simply a play with music, but a play that flows like a beautiful symphony, where themes are carried across movements, each with its own tempo and dynamics. Rinkel skillfully orchestrates plot lines related to family, faith, cultural identity, and acceptance with completely engaging characters. What a wonderful evening of theater can be achieved in the hands of the right director/conductor!

  • Joe Swenson: A Kreutzer Sonata

    From the outset of this play, you are hooked. The architecture of this play is outstanding. Purpose driven monologues that drive the content exactly where it needs to go. The tension, the incredible characters, there is so much in this play. This play deserves an audience, it's beautiful.

    From the outset of this play, you are hooked. The architecture of this play is outstanding. Purpose driven monologues that drive the content exactly where it needs to go. The tension, the incredible characters, there is so much in this play. This play deserves an audience, it's beautiful.

View all 9 recommendations

Character Information

3 males, 2 females, 1 gender-neutral.
The actress playing David's mother must double Carolyn, his father's girlfriend.
  • David Lindenbaum
    An exceptionally talented piano student who has been brought up in a sheltered Jewish environment. As the play progresses, David learns how to survive in the modern world without compromising his religious beliefs.
    Character Age
    18
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Elena Guerriero
    A fiery, volatile violin student who has been paired with David to play Beethoven's "Kreutzer Sonata." Hedonistic and intensely antithetical to any kind of religion.
    Character Age
    19
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Avram Lindenbaum
    David's stern, authoritarian father, who reveres his son's talent but has been pretending a faith in Judaism he no longer believes, if he ever did.
    Character Age
    40s-50
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Rebekah Lindenbaum
    David's mother, a rigidly doctrinaire Jewish woman trapped in a loveless marriage. (Must double Carolyn.)
    Character Age
    40s-50
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Terry Michaels
    David's waggish, oversexed roommate, who is not nearly as dumb as he pretends to be.
    Character Age
    18
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Professor Tomansky
    A no-nonsense, embittered piano teacher who has at last found in David a student of exceptional promise.
    Character Age
    50s-60s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Any
  • Carolyn
    Avram's urbane and gracious Episcopal girlfriend. (Must double Rebekah.)
    Character Age
    40s-50
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Production History

  • Type Community Theater, Organization Modern Classics Theatre Company of Long Island, Lindenhurst, NY. Director: Tim Oriani, Year 2019
  • Type Professional, Organization Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Year 2017
  • Type Professional, Organization Secret Theatre UNFringed Festival, Long Island City, NY, Year 2017

Awards

  • Best Play
    Secret Theatre UNFringed Festival
    Winner
    2017