Theater Review: The Ruskin Group Theatre, Substance of Fire
by Anne Hulegard The Ruskin Group Theatre presents a revival of award winning playwright Jon Robin Baitz’s “The Substance of Fire,” a timeless story of survival, family, loss, secrets, and how our past can shape us. Isaac Gelbhart (Rob Morrow) survived the holocaust and arrived in New York City an eight-year-old orphan. His past ignited a fire to recreate himself and a meaningful life. He built a publishing empire from scratch and became well respected for championing important works. Decades have passed and times have changed, but Isaac has not. Publishing “important books” has become less popular and Isaac’s business is failing. His three estranged children have come to help save the company, suggesting foreign investors and more commercial novels. But Isaac views this as a hostile takeover and an assault on everything he’s built. He struggles with this new generation that chooses to follow their dreams over hard work. Son Aaron tells his father, “I don’t have to suffer to feel alive.” Isaac’s parenting style lacks and may stem from a belief that his criticism will make his children stronger survivors. He refers to Aaron as a “gardener” when in fact he is a college professor of…
Read this story on easyreadernews.com