When is a miracle still a miracle when it isn’t the miracle you thought it was?
Confused?
It will become abundantly clear when you see “Miracle on South Division Street” by Tom Dudzick at Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest, Nov. 14-Dec. 14.
Naomi Hershman plays Clara Nowak, the matriarch of a Catholic blue-collar family in Buffalo, New York, who is the guardian of a statue Clara’s father erected of the Virgin Mary outside their home, after seeing a vision of her at his barbershop.
“She is a loving mother, protective of her family, devout in her belief, playful, and optimistic,” Hershman said. “Her humanity and generosity are inspirational.”
The actor said that Clara believes in miracles because “she has been the keeper of the sacred miracle that happened to her father.”
Clara undergoes a big change over the course of the play, finding “a new purpose in her life,” Hershman indicated.
The actor admitted that she read the script five times before she decided to audition for the role. “I cried, I laughed,” Hershman said. “I love her. She’s so many layers. Such a beautiful character.”
Hershman also praised the play, declaring, “It’s got everything — pathos and humor and family ties that are unbreakable. It’s an openhearted, beautiful story.”
When Artistic Director Scott Phelps asked Scott Shallenbarger to direct Citadel’s holiday show, Shallenbarger suggested this play. Phelps agreed.
“I had given him one script and he read it and he said, ‘I think this one’s a better choice,’” Phelps recalled. “I read his choice and I said, ‘You’re right.’”
Phelps indicated that he was intrigued by the story of Clara’s father, who had to leave Poland during World War II, after it was invaded by the Soviet Union. He came to America, where he had that vision in his barbershop, which inspired him to create the Virgin Mary statue.
Phelps was also drawn to the play’s “twists and turns it took. It was just a lot of fun,” Phelps said. “You think it’s a Christmas play but you come to find out it’s more than that.”
The message of this play, Phelps declared, is that “We’re all the same people.”
Director Shallenbarger discovered this play after Phelps asked him to direct the holiday show at Citadel.
“I started reading a bunch of material, wanting to see if I could find something away from the traditional fare, like ‘A Christmas Carol,’ and landed on this play,” Shallenbarger said. “Just found it humorous and touching, heartfelt, and a great family story. It felt right for the holidays.”
The director did stress that, although it’s a clean show, the subject matter would probably not be of interest to children under 13.
“It doesn’t snow in our play and there’s no magic element,” Shallenbarger joked.
The show does take place on Christmas Eve, though, when Clara and her children have gathered to celebrate. The audience will be “watching them navigate the story of their family legend that begins to unravel,” Shallenbarger said. “It has become the mother’s guiding principle in her lifetime to take care of the statue.” A deathbed confession “puts into question all they think they know,” the director teased.
Shallenbarger said that, for him, the question of the play is, “What is the definition of miracle?”
He added, that the play also questions, “What is the true meaning of unconditional love?”
Post-show talkbacks are planned for Nov. 20, Dec. 4, and Dec. 10. “I would like the opening question to be, ‘What is your definition of a miracle?,” Shallenbarger said.
Citadel Theatre is at 300 S. Waukegan Rd. in Lake Forest. Performances of “Miracle on South Division Street” are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 14-Dec. 14, plus 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 and 13, and 1 p.m. Nov. 26 and Dec. 10. There are no performances on Nov. 27 or Dec. 11. Tickets are $20 for previews Nov. 12 and 13; all other performances are $45. There are discounts for seniors, students, and military personnel. Group rates are available.
For reservations or additional information, call 847-735-8554 or visit citadeltheatre.org.
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
