We Were There: Soul Doctor Opening Night

When the lights dimmed for Soul Doctor, I hadn’t realized I needed fixing but by the end of the show, I’d been made more than whole. With lyrics by Neshama Carlebach and David Schechter, written and directed by playwright Daniel. S. Wise, Soul Doctor is brimming with emotion and endearingly comical. Even more than that, it’s passionate; about commonalities over differences, togetherness, rather than separation and it sees music and love as the ties that connect it all together.

There was an infectious energy on opening night that will surely continue for many nights to come. Leading cast members Eric Anderson (Schlomo) and Amber Iman (Nina) positively stole the show with their melodic overtures and honest, whimsical banter. They are surely a balanced pairing of raw talent and professional awareness.

Eric’s Schlomo was captivating in his honest, open portrayal of a rabbi who sought to modernize the message of his rigid, archaic synagogue. His beautiful, clear voice washed over the audience like cool waves, wearing us down like sand washing into the ocean. When he sang “Ode Yishama”, his energy and excitement permeated the theatre. Within seconds, everyone was smiling, laughing and clapping in sync.

Making her Broadway debut as Nina Simone, Amber Iman stole the show with a voice that can only be described as “charismatically velvet.” Her lounge set of “I Put a Spell On You” was portentous of her entire performance; she captivated the entire audience with her ability to switch from sultry “You Know How I Feel” to her upbeat, revival rendition of “Ki Va Moed” without dropping character or a single note. Her Nina was witty and nurturing to her “Salamo” but shepherding as well, educating him on the struggles of African-Americans at the time in addition to helping him find his voice. We expect great things from Amber in the future.

Just like the song, “Keep the fire burning”, the remaining cast kept the emotions running high in both directions. The jaunty dancing maintained a jovial atmosphere while Zarah Mahler’s “I Was A Sparrow” was hauntingly beautiful and cried out for well-deserved attention.

As a part of the closing, Song Doctor belted out a soulful “Return Again” to which I can only answer, “Yes. Emphatically yes.” This is a must-see show with a talented cast sure to evoke emotions you didn’t know you had and fill you up with a fire that’s sure to continue burning for weeks to come. Do not miss this show!

Soul Doctor is playing in the Circle In The Square Theatre on 50th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue. You can purchase tickets online at souldoctorbroadway.com.

Check out our INSTAGRAM for our pics from this event!