Dybbuk, the term for a spirit that enters the body of someone who is living, is derived from the Hebrew word “to cling”. Appropriately, the Washington DC Jewish Community Center’s (DCJCC) production of S. Anski’s classic Jewish text, The Dybbuk, focuses on characters who cling to things a little too tightly. Leah’s father Sender (Irakli Kavsadze), for example, clings to the idea that a marriage full of material riches, in contrast to one formed by love, is best for his daughter. Leah’s (Irinia Tsikurishvili) love interest, Chonnon (Andrew Zox), clings to his scholarly works and becomes entranced by the mysticism of Kabbalah as a way to seek explanation for that which cannot be explained.

Utilizing a simple black box theatre, the set is minimal, thus leaving one to concentrate on the exquisite acting and dancing, as well as the lavish Georgian-style costumes. Though originally set in Russia, this adaptation by Hannah Hessel and Paata Tsikurishvili is set in their Tsikurishvili’s home country, Georgia, which the writer has described as “a safe haven for Jews around the world.” Choreographed by lead Irina Tsikurishvili, the intense and precise Georgian-influenced movements combine with modern dance to effectively convey both the emotion and energy of the actors.