Haunting Jewish-Cuban ‘The Golem Of Havana’ Explores Cross Cultural Tragedies

When two cultures separated by language, history and geography collide in the musical The Golem of Havana, their similarities strike surprisingly thunderous resonances for protagonists paralyzed by the memories of a horrific threat they barely survived once before.

This maiden offering from the Miami New Drama troupe at the Colony Theatre melds warm comedy and profound tragedy in an intriguing, sometimes moving, often thought-provoking evening. It encompasses the Holocaust, the Castro revolution, a hymn to a Yoruban deity, and Old World klezmer music pivoting instantly into a hot salsa celebration.

As engaging as the score may be by composer Salomon Lerner and lyricist Len Schiff, the power comes from the ingenious script written by its director Michel Hausmann, the co-founder and artistic director of Miami New Drama.