Mitch Albom

Epsilon presents a weekend of ‘Tuesdays’

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By John Lyle Belden

Any day is a good day to feel alive.

Epsilon Theatre Company, which usually showcases the talents of youth, has the grown-ups take the stage for a production of “Tuesdays with Morrie,” by Jeffrey Hatcher with Mitch Albom, based on his best-selling book.

Local performer and ETC board member Afton Shepard directs. She said she first saw the show shortly after high school and had since wanted to work it herself. The two-person cast are J. Charles Weimer as Albom and Scott Stockton as Morrie Schwartz.

Mitch Albom established himself as a sportswriter and columnist in Detroit covering major sporting events including the Olympics and Wimbledon, but many years earlier had been a student at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, taking every sociology course that Schwartz taught. Mentorship became friendship and, upon graduation, Mitch promised to keep in touch with Morrie. He did not keep that promise.

In 1995, Mitch was surprised to see Morrie on television’s “Nightline,” and even more surprised to find the professor was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”), and didn’t have long to live. At first to ease his conscience, Mitch went to visit Morrie at his home, on a Tuesday. He returned the next Tuesday, and then every week “until the end.”

Indulging their impulses – Mitch’s as a journalist, Morrie’s as a teacher – the visits became a sort of course on living and dying, with lessons for all of us.

Under Shepard’s guidance, Weimer and Stockton deliver a very gentle and human story, seasoned with appropriate humor. Morrie would be quick to laugh at his situation, and unafraid to cry when he felt it was needed. Stockton easily shares his brave optimism as well as a sense of his pain. His ailment is mostly physical, while Mitch’s is more of the soul. Weimer provides in his narration and performance a sense of honesty as both the character and we who follow along come to understand the significance of this journey.

Uplifting and life-affirming (a bit ironic, I know), “Tuesdays with Morrie” has performances Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (June 12-14) at Broadway United Methodist Church, 609 E. 29th St., Indianapolis. Get tickets at epsilontheatricalco.org.

IRT ‘Tuesdays’ provides lesson for any day

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By John Lyle Belden

Morrie Schwartz wrote his own epitaph: “A Teacher to the Last.” But the lesson hasn’t ended; he’s still teaching us about life today.

The old college professor’s wisdom was captured by friend and former student Mitch Albom in his bestselling book, “Tuesdays With Morrie.” The stage play, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, is presented by Indiana Repertory Theatre through Feb. 21. The production, directed by Benjamin Hanna with Ryan Artzberger as Mitch and Henry Woronicz as Morrie, was recorded on the IRT mainstage earlier this month by local Public Television station WFYI for viewing online.

Mitch had treasured his time with Morrie at Brandeis University, taking every one of the old man’s Sociology classes. They inspired him to follow his dream of becoming a jazz pianist after college. But life has a way of killing one’s dreams, so Mitch turned to his other talent, writing, and became a successful sportswriter and columnist. He left Morrie’s gentle guidance in the past, embracing the hard-hitting world of chasing the next deadline.

Until the night he happened to watch an episode of “Nightline.”

Morrie’s life had changed as well. His spry energy – he loved to dance – was failing him, and it was discovered he had ALS (popularly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and, at most, months to live. His decision to confront dying head-on, ironically enriching his life, got the attention of local media, and eventually Ted Koppel.

Upon learning of Morrie’s condition, Mitch took a brief moment from his frantic schedule to pay him a visit. It was only going to be one Tuesday afternoon, but he eventually went back, and kept returning to Morrie’s Massachusetts home every week until the professor was gone. Ever the journalist, Mitch asked questions, which his mentor gladly answered, re-cementing a bond that not even death could break.

The script by Albom and Hatcher is loaded with refreshing drops of wisdom by Schwartz – a welcome relief from the spiritual drought of this last year – delivered with sincere joy by Woronicz, who also contemplated life’s final chapters in his previous IRT role in “Morning After Grace.” Artzberger, a familiar face to local audiences, also played Mitch at the IRT about a decade ago, and comfortably still fits Albom’s shoes.

Like real life (which this is based on), there are many sad and heart-touching moments, but there is also an abundance of humor natural to the exchange of quips between a wise teacher and the student who doesn’t realize he has so much to learn, or between two souls who truly love one another. The overall arc is uplifting, something we all need right now.

To take this master class in life, visit irtlive.com. A $30 virtual ticket gives access to those gathered around the screen, perhaps the IRT’s best value (though your friends should consider hitting that “donate” button).