←Recommendations of 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!

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!

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.

I normally dread plays where religion is a major subject, because so few of them treat the subject with respect. It's why I have no use for, say, "The Book of Mormon" or any of the "Nunsense" shows. But there are exceptions — Shanley's "Doubt," Pielmeir's "Agnes of God" and Simon's "God's Favorite," to name three. Now I can add "A Kreutzer Sonata" to my list. It held me from start to finish, flowing beautifully and illuminating how we can maneuver through culture clashes. If COVID ever ends, it's on my list of shows I'd like to direct. Well done!

A very well-crafted, full-length play that deals with religious beliefs or lack of them. The characters are fully developed, intelligent, and often funny. This multigenerational play is suitable for teenagers and up, and it’s thought-provoking and heartwarming. It’s hard to stay true to yourself in a world that tries to force people to compromise on their core beliefs, but David Lindenbaum manages to do just that, while being tolerant of others. Bravo! And a rousing standing ovation to Larry Rinkel for this masterpiece.

A Kreutzer Sonata is a poignant, funny, and sensitive play about topics rarely seen in the theatre. Larry Rinkel tells the story of David Lindenbaum, a piano prodigy who is also an Orthodox Jew. The plays explores the competing demands of religion, and artistic pursuit with surprising results. All of the characters are going through their own unique struggles, which allows for a kind of variations on a theme, a dramatic structure which mirrors a powerful piece of music.

A Kreutzer Sonata is a beautifully written coming of age story that isn't afraid to tackle the important questions of faith, a matter which the script holds central. The relationships developed by Rinkel in the script are wonderful and complex, they aren't afraid to be messy, but at the end of the day the positivity never ceases to be heartwarming.

The moments that stand out from the reading for me have to be whenever David finally comes out of his shell and embraces who he is, whether it be musically, personally, or in his faith, it's always special and standout.

A wonderful coming of age story, at once both contemporary and ageless, and so relatable to any one who has ever had to grow from the safety of one's upbringing into the world at large in order to realize one's dreams, as well as who they are and their place in the world. Beautiful. (BTW and FYI: listening to The Kreutzer Sonata while reading it gives an added depth to the experience.)

Happy to recommend this coming of age story about a Modern Orthodox young man who has to navigate a world his family never prepared him for reminiscent of the world of Chaim Potok with so much innocence and betrayal. What is most at stake seems to be David's ability to stay true to his own beliefs in a world where everyone's values are shifting. Could be 2016 or could be 40 years before that, either way the characters are charming!