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Underneath the Lintel

by Glen Berger
SF Bay Guardian March 24, 2004 (Robert Avila)

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Teatro Shalom presents Seattle-based writer-performer Glen Berger's solo work, a modern Jewish folktale about a fussbudget librarian from Holland who becomes obsessed with a very overdue book checked out to an ancient patron, anonymous but for a single initial. One clue after another leads the Dutch homebody on a transnational hunt for this elusive, seemingly immortal globetrotter and monumentally irresponsible bibliophile. As he sacrifices all former security in pursuit of the mystery, the librarian turned sleuth confronts his own missteps, including a youthful hesitation that may have cost him his only chance for happiness. This second narrative thread imposes itself weakly and somewhat awkwardly on the ultimately existential journey, however, while the story's repetitious aspects and gentle but often dull humor grow wearying. Like many a fairytale, Berger's light treatment and euphoric ending belie a darker theme, and his persnickety clown may convey it best to a younger audience, or one absent jaded miscreants anyway.

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