By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Golden Globe and three-time Emmy Award-winning actor Jeremy Piven ("Vindicta" and TV's Entourage) captivates with his impressive singing and tap-dancing in the striking period drama
"The Performance," directed by his sister,
Shira Piven (TV's Room 104).
Based on
Arthur Miller's poignant 2002 short story, first published in
"The New Yorker," "The Performance" is more than just a musical showcase. Set against the backdrop of 1930s Berlin, the film explores themes of identity, resilience, and the transformative power of art.
Harold May (Piven) is a gifted American/Jewish tap dancer from New York, desperate for fame and fortune--and willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Once the star of prestigious venues like “The Palace” alongside his quirky troupe--wisecracking womanizer Benny Worth (Adam Garcia, My Eyes), shy young dancer Paul Garner (Isaac Gryn, TV's The Tattooist of Auschwitz), sassy singer Sira (Lara Wolf, TV's Those About to Die), and the enchanting Carol Conway (Maimie McCoy, TV's Midsomer Murders)--Harold has seen his star dim.
Now, exhausted by his financial struggles and an unquenchable desire to dance, Harold's feet are itching for a return to the stage--and he's determined this time to take Europe by storm. When he's recruited by Damian Fugler (Robert Carlyle, TV's "Cobra") to perform a one-night set in Europe for a handsome amount of money upfront and after the show, Harold can't say no. The troupe is all on board too and can't believe their good luck especially when they arrive at their swanky hotel. Harold has the best digs of all, a palatial suite fit for a king.
Oh, but there is a catch--one Harold never saw coming, and when it hits, it changes everything. After a performance, the audience is ushered out of the club, and Harold is asked to perform for a special guest: Hitler and his entourage.
Talk about a moral dilemma. With his blond hair and blue eyes, Harold--who has been passing most of his life as a gentile--is faced with a difficult choice: continue the charade and perform for the dictator, or risk exposing his true identity by escaping. This decision weighs heavily on him and his dancers, especially Benny, who insists on leaving immediately and tells Harold that "People like us are trying to get out of Germany, not get in."
In the end, they agree to do one show for Hitler and his guests. The performance is a hit, and they quickly become the toast of the town--only to find themselves trapped and unable to leave.
Tensions rise as Damien begins investigating Harold and his crew, and the pressure mounts with each passing hour. As time ticks away, the group scrambles to figure out how to escape their increasingly perilous situation. But not everyone makes it out unscathed.
Things take a tragic turn, and the consequences are especially devastating for Harold.
Piven, an accomplished tap dancer in his own right, encountered some obstacles in bringing "The Performance" to the big screen. A passion project that has quietly flown under the radar, it now gives audiences the opportunity to uncover a completely new side of the actor--one they likely never imagined. And that makes his performance worthy of applause.
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Watch This Trailer For
"THE PERFORMANCE"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.