Patinkin Plays to Sold Out Crowd

The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta came out of the gate galloping with a smash hit sponsoring Jewish entertainer Mandy Patinkin at the City Springs Performing Arts Center on Jan. 25.

Tickets went on social media and sold out quicker than fryin’ hot cakes. Patinkin, 70, appeared in his one-man show, “Being Alive,” alongside pianist Adam Ben-David, with songs from Sondheim to Irving Berlin and Cole Porter.

An Emmy and Tony Award winner, Patinkin is somewhere between a raconteur, actor and singer. Atlanta fans knew him from high profile roles in “The Princess Bride,” “Homeland,” and who could forget, “Yentl,” and even movies about Smurfs and Elmo. Perhaps what made him most unique for this audience was his facile performance in Yiddish, from his album, “Mamaloshen,” where he seemed most alive.

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The program began with a video about the MJCCA with a series of genuine testimonials of meaningful programming at all stages of life. MJCCA executive director Jared Powers acknowledged Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch, and state representative Esther Panitch.

Powers summarized, “Community, camaraderie, and connections impact four generations at the MJCCA.”

The entrance line looped around City Springs, and a very few lucky patrons were able to buy tickets that had been returned by generous patrons who were unable to attend at the last minute. With not an empty chair in the 1,200-seat house, Patinkin appeared in all black with orange trimmed sneakers frequently sipping from something he called out as “scotch,” showing no fatigue going straight through, from song to song with no intermission.

Rachel and Avi Binstock were proud Mandy Patinkin fans.

The first half of the performance seemed to drag a bit with a string of melancholy tunes like “A Tisket, A Tasket,” “School Days,” one somber number, “Drinking Tea in Dayton, Ohio 1903,” and “Time in a Bottle.” Later, he sang “It’s Not Easy Being Green” as an homage to Kermit the Frog.

There were props like a newspaper, umbrella, megaphone, Charlie Chaplin wobbling, lying flat on the floor, then effects like train sounds and a peppy echoing duet with Ben-David. There were a few comedic “shtiks” with the audience for Jews being late and needing to use the bathroom. Audience members rose to do the “Hokey Pokey” with Patinkin which made for a light moment. Later to be au currant, he threw out, “Who gives an ‘f’ about that?”

The second half picked up tempo, and Patinkin came most alive in two arenas: performing in Yiddish and sharing his personal history, salute and recognition for the role that his Southside Chicago JCC played in shaping his life.

Septuagenarians Lynne and Tom Greenfield noted, “We have been fans of Patinkin for a long time, having seen him in ‘Evita’ in London’s West End before he even came to Broadway. However, although he still possesses that magical and melodic voice, his choice of songs was disappointing and a little strange. We wanted more from his performing past, not “ditties.” Before the performance, a younger couple, Rachel and Avi Binstock, said they were huge fans of Patinkin from “The Princess Bride” and continue to follow him on Instagram.

The real treat was Patinkin’s Yiddish tunes like “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” “God Bless America,” and “White Christmas” – enough to make Irving Berlin proud.. We all knew these tunes and attempted to sing gutturally along.

Patinkin praised the audience for caring and supporting the MJCCA. He reminisced about his youth, starting in kindergarten at the Chicago JCC, and returning later in his teen years where he saw the very same courtyard tree. At that point in time, he “didn’t know who he would be” and found a home there and encouragement for his drama career and the stage.

He stated, “I love for you taking care of the JCC.” He also took encouragement and meaning at age 15, interpreting an inspirational theatre piece as “If you love someone, tell them.”

He recounted that the highlight of his high school AZA experience was stealing a bomb that didn’t amount to much.

Patinkin still has his Broadway pipes and precise delivery, sometimes evoking an Irish tenor. He has earned his place in the entertainment world and was a proper match for the MJCCA crowd.