Family dynamics explored in ‘The Sisters Rosensweig’

Then sibling rivalry.

Plunging into both are the titular siblings of “The Sisters Rosensweig.”

“It’s about possibilities,” says Norma Morrow, co-star of this weekend’s performances in Summerlin. “This piece really has a lot of meaning about relationships and life and time.”

Following January’s debut with “The Last Night of Ballyhoo,” this production marks the sophomore effort by the Jewish Repertory Theatre of Nevada, co-founded by Morrow and co-star Charlene Sher. Late playwright Wendy Wasserstein’s 1992 dramedy is mounted as a staged reading, as was “Ballyhoo” — but with costumes, lighting, set and mobile actors.

“Rosensweig’s” plot revolves around three sisters from Brooklyn who gather at the London home of the eldest to celebrate her birthday. What follows is an emotional weekend dealing with religion, class, culture, ethnic identification, inner angst and romance with men in their lives. Might’ve been titled “All My Rosensweigs” if not for Wasserstein’s Pulitzer Prize-winning wit and insight.

“I originally read for this very part in the original Broadway production, and I really did well, but they got Robert Klein, he was the name,” says California-based Equity actor Steve Vinovich, who portrays a New York furrier who strikes up a romance with one of the sisters.

Vinovich has performed several times here with Nevada Conservatory Theatre in plays including “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and “Inherit the Wind.”

“Wendy was thrilled (with his audition), and I noticed from then on, whenever there was a production somewhere, I would get a call. She put my name out there. But I’d never done it, so this is completing old business.”

Similar to “Ballyhoo,” a “Rosensweig” theme addresses some characters’ reluctance to accept — and finally, to embrace — their Jewish identity.

“The Jewish people, even though it’s a small community in the world, they carried from each generation, this not being accepted by so much of the world,” Morrow says. “This is about not denying who you are.”

That’s between the revelry and the rivalry.

Contact reporter Steve Bornfeld at sbornfeld@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0256.