Other

A

I’m generally not a fan of one-person shows, so I had no plans to see Ari'el Stachel’s show at Greenwich House Theater, even though I remembered thoroughly enjoying his Tony-winning performance as an Egyptian trumpet player in The Band’s Visit. However, after two friends whose opinion I respect separately urged me to see it, I relented and bought a ticket. I’m very glad that I did. Stachel is a phenomenal performer with enough energy for ten. He is also a very brave man to reveal his struggles since childhood with OCD and anxiety disorder, as well as his ongoing identity crisis as the child of a bearded Yemeni Jew and an Ashkenazi American Jew who divorced when he was a toddler. His attempts to mix with white friends was problematic once they got a look at his brown-skinned bearded father, especially after 9/11. Nor was his attempt to become a part of black culture ultimately successful. His anxiety disorder causes him to sweat profusely, which, together with the hostile environment in casting actors who present as non-Caucasian, has complicated his acting career. Over 90 minutes, Stachel relates his attempts to deal with his mental health issues and accept his identity. En route, he impersonates an impressive variety of characters, sings, dances and draws the audience into his orbit. The play is surprisingly funny, considering its themes. The production is enhanced by a simple geometric set design by Afsoon Pajoufar, excellent lighting and projections by Alexander V. Nichols and a topnotch sound design by Madeleine Oldham. Director Tony Taccone never lets the energy flag. The next time I fill out a form, I will think of this play and all it reveals about the lives of those who need to check the box “other.” Running time: 90 minutes. Closes December 6. Some performances are followed by a talkback about living with mental health issues