Minnesota Jewfolk may like to claim the Frozen Chosen title, but Glory – a unique and compelling play that blends action, humor, and history – is at Theatre in the Round through Feb. 9. The play chronicles a pair of Jewish sisters who give us some competition thanks to their Ontario, Canada, upbringing and their place in ice hockey history.
Not to mention, they have quite a name.
The Schmuck sisters, Marm and Helen, spent winters skating on frozen ponds and rivers. In 1931, they became founding members of what would become a team of hockey legends, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.
In their decade of existence, the all-female Preston Rivulettes won an unbelievable 346 out of 350 games as well as most provincial, regional, and national championships.
As improbable as their success was their very existence.
Conveyed in the performance through snippets of old-timey radio newscasts and live game announcements, the Schmucks and their teammates faced multiple challenges, starting with the widely held belief that women should refrain from rigorous physical competition. Commentators expressed particular outrage about “fragile girls” partaking in the violent sport of hockey.
Literally and figuratively hungry during the Depression, Canadian spectators embraced the team, however, desperately needing a distraction from hardship and enjoying the Rivulettes’ triumphs, bold personalities, and their showy, fast-paced style on the ice, which is recreated to impressive effect in Glory.
This is where the four actors representing an entire hockey team dazzle their audience, a more than fitting homage to the trailblazing women they play.
With only a minimalist physical set consisting of hockey sticks and a goal net, the actors create the experience of witnessing a real game – and they do so using…swing dance.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Now in its 73rd season, the theatre is the longest-running in Minneapolis and as its name suggests, the stage is surrounded by audience seating. Conducive to an intimate feel with Glory’s cast of six, the venue also creates a mini hockey arena experience. But what could have been an absurd or awkward facsimile, four actors simulate skating – and even fighting – on the ice through outstanding choreography. At times smoothly synchronized, other times purposefully frenetic, the jazz-inspired movements and deft handling of the hockey sticks give a genuine sense that one is witnessing a full-on game against invisible competitors, right down to being able to follow the trajectory of the non-existent puck.
In addition to the impressive execution of the physically demanding roles, the production is elevated by the palpable chemistry between the four teammates. Replete with warmth, humorous banter and sometimes bickering, they charm the audience into rooting for them, just as the real Rivulettes earned their fans.
This is important because the team faced more than competition on the ice.
Sexism remained rampant throughout Rivulettes’ tenure, as reflected in demeaning comments made live during games by the announcer. The team’s male coach accepts the job with great initial reluctance and a lack of faith.
Not even the team captain – Hilda Ranscombe, a speedy skater with wicked stick-handling skills, considered one of hockey’s greatest players and an inductee in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame – was permitted the opportunities open to male counterparts, such as professional teams and Olympic participation.
The economic crisis that created demand for escapism through sports also sowed deep and widespread poverty, straining team finances and sometimes preventing the women from competing in far-flung locales that required days of train travel.
The impact of antisemitism is woven throughout the performance, including via radio reports about Hitler’s rise and Canada (like the U.S.) refusing entry to Jews fleeing Nazi Germany. These refugees were forced back to Europe, where many were murdered in the Holocaust or interned in concentration camps.
In her role as Marm Schmuck, one of the Rivulettes’ founding Jewish players, Kelly Solberg brings aching poignancy to her character’s pain and frustration at seeing “No dogs, No Jews” signs at games and her sister being denied admission into university despite high academic achievement. At the time, discriminatory quotas limited the admission of Jews into educational institutions and capped participation in many fields, including medicine and law.
Actor Brynn Kelly embodies energy and leadership as the Rivulettes’ star player, Hilda Ranscombe, who was revered by teammates not just for her hockey prowess but her supportiveness and mentoring.
“Hilda’s drive and perseverance is a quality I hope to carry into my own life,” Kelly told TC Jewfolk. “Even when faced with historical adversity, she remains full of hope and looks forward.”
This attitude comes to life in Glory, resulting in a fun and uplifting work that celebrates how ingenuity, talent, friendship, and persistence helped the Rivulettes earn their place in history without glossing over the injustice and difficulties they confronted.