MIRACLE AND WONDER
Ensemble Theatre
November 15-December 2, 2012
www.ensemble-theatre.com or 216-321-2930
Bob Abelman
Move over “Miracle on 34th Street.” There’s a new holiday entertainment in town whose quirky charm, sense of humor and tender message offer a unique brand of Christmas cheer.
To see a full review of this show, read Bob Abelman's News-Herald article here.
Roy Berko
Ensemble’s Stagewright’s concept is an excellent means for local playwrights to try out their writing skills, get constructive feedback, and hopefully get their works staged. Congratulations to Jonathan Wilhelm for developing the often delightful MIRACLE & WONDER. Though it needs some refinements, and a more clearly directed concept, it is both entertaining and thought provoking and a change from the usual holiday theater fare.
To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.
Fran Heller
Cross "It's A Wonderful Life" with "Touched By An Angel" and you have "Miracle&Wonder," Cleveland playwright Jonathan Wilhelm's comedy about an angel (in this instance a Jewish one) who magically and mysteriously alights on folk with something missing in their lives and finds what connects them.
Principal weakness of play is an unwieldy plot that goes off on too many tangents and lacks focus.
Principal strength is sympathetic, funny and immensely likeable characters who take up residence under the skin.
To see a full review of this show, read Fran Heller's review at the Cleveland Jewish News
Christine Howey
Ensemble Theatre is to be credited with trotting out a new entry in the genre, Miracle & Wonder, a play developed through their laudable StageWrights playwriting workshop. It's a comedy dripping with Christmas-time atmospherics and tender references to non-traditional family values. In short, a play one would love to love.
To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's review at Cleveland Scene
Marjorie Preston
Ensemble Theatre's current production, the World Premiere of “Miracle & Wonder,” by local playwright Jonathan Wilhelm, is a wacky comedy, smartly written and expertly acted, even though some of the explanations for events come late in the game and are a bit lengthy. “Miracle & Wonder” can be a heady, abstract concept. But it can also be something right in front of us, if we choose to bear witness about the mysteries of life and those along for the journey.
To see a full review of this show, read Marjorie Preston's blog here.
Andrea Simakis
While discrete scenes, are well-acted and represent the stirring, sweet and funny sentiment shot through "Miracle & Wonder," the play never gels. The work feels more like a series of vignettes, partly because director Ian Hinz never figured out how to speed through a blizzard of scene changes. But I'd be a Grinch not to tip a tiara to Tim Tavcar, who gives a vanity-free performance as pot-bellied female impersonator Polly Esther.
To see a full review of this show, read Andrea Simakis's complete review, go to While discrete scenes, are well-acted and represent the stirring, sweet and funny sentiment shot through "Miracle & Wonder," the play never gels. The work feels more like a series of vignettes, partly because director Ian Hinz never figured out how to speed through a blizzard of scene changes. But I'd be a Grinch not to tip a tiara to Tim Tavcar, who gives a vanity-free performance as pot-bellied female impersonator Polly Esther.
http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2012/11/miracle_wonder_at_ensemble_the.html
