The Chosen [Play]

by Aaron Posner (Adaptation), Chaim Potok

Few stories offer more warmth, wisdom, or generosity than this tale of two boys, their fathers, their friendship, and the chaotic times in which they live. Though on the surface it explores religious faith--the intellectually committed as well as the passionately observant--the struggles addressed in The Chosen are familiar to families of all faiths and in all nations. In 1940s Brooklyn, New York, an accident throws Reuven Malther and Danny Saunders together. Despite their differences (Reuven is a Modern Orthodox Jew with an intellectual, Zionist father; Danny is the brilliant son and rightful heir to a Hasidic rebbe), the young men form a deep, if unlikely, friendship. Together they negotiate adolescence, family conflicts, the crisis of faith engendered when Holocaust stories begin to emerge in the U.S., loss, love, and the journey to adulthood. The intellectual and spiritual clashes between fathers, between each son and his own father, and between the two young men, provide a unique backdrop for this exploration of fathers, sons, faith, loyalty, and, ultimately, the power of love. (This is not a conventional children's book, although it will move any wise child age 12 or older, and often appears on summer reading lists for high school students.)

Genres: Plays, Fiction

61 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Lisa Brantly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent adaptation of one of my favourite books.

(Read while in line for thanksgiving Turkey -- strangely appropriate)

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

wah!!!! <3

[Alexander Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Chosen is a great theatrical adaptation of a classic novel that tells the story of two boys from completely different worlds and how they become friends. Daniel is a Hasidic Jew, training as son of the community's rabbi and future tzaddik. Reuven is a non-Hasidic, baseball loving Jewish boy living with his father, a soon-to-be-devout Zionist. Set in the 1940s in a time of the revelation of the Holocaust and a religious struggle in the Jewish community, family and tradition threaten to tear these two boys apart. They succeed for a while until the boys learn what true friendship is really about. And with the help of each other, they gain the strength to take control of their own lives and follow their passions.

Strong adaptation that really covers the plot and relationships well from the novel, both between Reuven and Daniel and between the boys and their fathers. I was disappointed that one of my favorite scenes from the novel, when Reuven prepares and presents a class presentation for his Talmud studies class in college. All it got was one sentence from Daniel about how he heard Reuven was doing well in that class. Oh well, not everything from a decent-sized novel can make it to the stage. But what did make it to the stage is enough to keep the novel's essence at heart.

[Leylamaría · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOUNG REUVEN: I just want to break something, destroy something.
REUVEN: Why not build something, make something?
YOUNG REUVEN: Like what?
REUVEN: (Putting the question back on himself) Like what?

—

I am way too attached to the original source material to give this anything less than five stars. Like. WAY too attached. But this was also just an extremely efficient adaption. Trims a lot from the book obviously but it keeps the heart of it intact and also makes its own mark on the story. Didn’t move me as much as the novel did, but they’re different animals. I still really, really, really liked it. I’ll be thinking about it for a while.

[Ash]

well, i'm half way through this book, and i think a big reason i like it is that its about jews. the dilemma between practicing and actually believing a religion is a very interesting development to the plot.

[Patrick\ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two growing up in two very different but convergent Jewish experiences. A tale to illuminate and to touch the heart.