I had the loveliest experience at the theater this week–I wandered into the Paramount Center’s intimate Black Box Theater where I found a woman, a grand piano, and a poignant tale of family, the holocaust, survival, and the profound effect of music on a life: THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE.

The Pianist of Willesden LaneThe star and solo performer is acclaimed concert pianist, author, and actress Mona Golabek who, with her first words, immediately draws us into her haunted past. She becomes Lisa Jura– her own mother at age 14, a piano prodigy living in Vienna with her family. As the Nazis tighten their grip on the country, Lisa’s family  look for an escape. They find it for one of their daughters–Lisa– on the famous “kindertransport” which took Jewish children by train, from the arms of their terrified families, and delivered them to distant family members or waiting strangers in Great Britain. Most of these children never saw their families again.

In the course of the evening Ms. Golabek illustrates her story with beautiful and passionate selections from Grieg, Beethoven, Chopin, and more. Her playing is evocative and tender. The entire theater feels muffled, as if wrapped in black velvet, its edges receding, giving way to images of a world gone by, a world outlined by huge ornate silver and gold frames hung from ceiling to floor.

I wish there had been even more photos, sounds, images of the era. Adapted and directed by performer Hershey Felder (who very successfully inhabits this format: GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE, MAESTRO: LEONARD BERNSTEIN), this piece needs to be sharpened dramatically to emphasize the sweep of history and the potency of this young woman’s dream; its contours could be fleshed out with more stagecraft.

But THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE remains an amazing true tale of the power of art, faith, hope, and love. It is based on the book THE CHILDREN OF WILLESDEN LANE by Ms Golabek in collaboration with Lee Cohen. See it at The Paramount Center through December 16th!