See you at the movies

Thirteenth-century poet’s life explored March 27 through Lawrence performance company film.

By: John Dunphy
   Jalal ud-Din Muhammad Rumi, known by westerners simply as Rumi, was a 13th century Persian poet and theologian, whose words and works spoke of universal love, regardless of race, sex, creed or other affiliation.
   The "whirling dervish," a form of worship through dance, was conceived through Rumi’s teachings. Today, with wars continuing and wars threatening various parts of the world, people from those conflicted locales continue to read his work, from the United States to Iran and beyond.
   It is this poet’s life the Lawrenceville Repertory Company presents in "Rumi." The film, written by Twin Oaks Drive playwright Frederick Olessi, and directed by Lawrenceville Road resident Leona Maffei, will debut at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 at the AMC Hamilton 24 Movie Theater, 325 Sloan Ave., in Hamilton. Admission is free.
   For Leona Maffei and her husband, David, who both started the Lawrenceville Repertory Company six years ago, the "Rumi" premiere is the culmination of a performing arts career that began at a relatively late age.
   Leona, a former history teacher, and David, a chiropractor, married in 1970. They began performing in their late 40s through the suggestion of one of David’s clients, Mary Liz Ivins, principal of Notre Dame High School, who suggested the couple try the performing arts.
   "Without her, we would not have been doing anything like this," Leona said. "She encouraged him (David) to get in touch with Tina Steele, and it went from there."
   Tina Steele and her husband, Byron, singing instructors in Pennington, sparked the Maffeis interest in theater, which led to them performing in several community theater musicals, starting with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s "Carousel."
   After several years, however, the Maffeis, now both 59, set their sights on something else — film.
   "Stage is great, but it’s not a lasting thing," Leona said. "We wanted to do something different."
   Their interest led them to collaboration with friend Frederick Olessi, whom Leona had worked with previously in 1997 as part of Lawrence Township’s tercentennial celebration. "He’s a prolific writer," Leona said. "He’s written over 80 plays, all with some kind of historical context."
   "Rumi" is the repertory company’s second filmed production written by Mr. Olessi. The first, "Cleopatra," debuted last year on the Mercer County and Comcast Cable network public access stations. A third, "Masada," is set to begin filming later this year.
   "Rumi" tells the story of its namesake’s spiritual love for Shams, a disciple he meets in 1244. It is "a movie of poetry, of two men and their union with the divine," Leona and Mr. Olessi write in a press release.
   "After Rumi (played by David Maffei) suffers the death of his wife and unborn daughter, he goes into deep despair. While talking with his students, including his son, Ali, Shams is introduced into his life."
   From that moment on, Rumi and Shams, played by Lake Drive resident Robert Carroll, become one, showing to the audience that "it is possible to love, to aspire, to claim the grandeur of this universe and this life without the restraints or liberation of flesh on flesh," according to the release.
   That spiritual love the two men share, however, angers Ali, played by Bob Bartolino, formerly of Lawrence, whose character seeks to put an end to it.
   "Shams knew instantly their relationship would contain violence and death," the press release states.
   Mr. Bartolino, who has been with the repertory company for several years, said he is excited for the film premiere of "Rumi," which has already been performed on stage several times. "This is very exciting," he said. "If this one does well and good things come of it, we’ll continue on, hopefully."
   Mr. Bartolino said he believes some could interpret Rumi and Shams’ relationship in numerous ways.
   "I think it’s left up to the viewer as far as homosexuality is concerned," he said. "They say it’s not of the flesh, but there are some lines Mr. Olessi wrote that allude to that. It’s hard to say, really. And I think that basically that’s a good thing."
   David Maffei agreed. "There’s poetry in this. It’s a little difficult. That’s why we think this will succeed. The actors like doing it."
   Jim Williams, who ran the cameras, editing, lighting and sound for the production said the show, which runs just under an hour in length "doesn’t drag."
   "To do Fred’s work and make it meaningful, you really have to work on it," he said.
   And you have to make it a labor of love. All of the contributors and actors, which includes Matt Viola, of Hillsborough; Mike Muller, of Bedminster; Cyndie Regn, of Mount Holly; and Seth Rohrbach, of Bethlehem, Pa.; worked gratis, including Ms. Regn’s costume designs, Mr. Williams’ filming and editing, and everyone’s efforts in getting the word out. Two $1,000 donations from the Lawrence Community Foundation have helped the production company cut their losses.
   "There’s no budget here," Leona said. "We do everything ourselves."
   For the Lawrenceville Repertory Company, it’s not about the money, however; it’s about the passion for the performing arts. "This area hungers for this," Leona added. "Actors want to get their teeth into something they haven’t seen 1,000 times."
   With a Hollywood-style premiere next week, and plans for continued exposure via area television stations, David expressed his excitement about the future. "A local filming group can produce movies for local television? What an idea this is. With leased access, cable television, affordable high quality equipment, you have a chance to be seen throughout the world. That’s amazing."
The Lawrenceville Repertory Company’s premiere of "Rumi," by Frederick Olessi, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 at the AMC Hamilton 24 theater, 325 Sloan Ave., Hamilton. Admission is free. Reservations can be made by calling (609) 683-0045 or by e-mail at [email protected].