Imagine This

Recorded during its brief run in London's West End in late 2008, the musical drama Imagine This is set in the Warsaw Ghetto circa 1942, where a group of imprisoned Jewish actors—closely watched by Nazi thugs—mount a musical about the siege of Masada, in which the heroic Roman general Silva becomes romantically involved with Tamar, the daughter of Jewish zealot leader Eleazar. In a narrative parallel, Daniel (the resistance fighter who takes on the role of Silva) falls in love with Rebecca (who plays Tamar and is also the daughter of the troupe's director, who is using the play to warn his audience about the reality of the Nazi “work camps” where they will soon be sent). One can't doubt the good intentions of librettist Glenn Berenbeim, composer Shuki Levi, and lyricist David Goldsmith, or of the largely unknown cast led by Peter Polycarpou. But bogged down with cardboard characters and a forgettable score, Imagine This ultimately feels both contrived and obvious, coming across like a poor cousin of Les Misérables that never achieves any real emotional impact. Still, you have to be grateful to PBS for preserving the ill-fated production; theater is an ephemeral art, and it would be nice if more productions—even mediocre ones—were filmed for archival purposes. DVD extras include a 35-minute Q&A featuring director Timothy Sheader, three cast members (including Polycarpou), and scholar Thane Rosenbaum; two bonus songs; and printable educational materials. Optional. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)