All three plays are acted with vigor, intelligence, sharp pacing, and lots of great, throaty ch's; it's a delight to watch these actors voice the Jewish culture's rhythms, music, and humor. If the takeaway is often earnest in theme, it's also often cut with a good dose of self-deprecating joke. As Saul Bellow and generations of American humorists have noted, "Oppressed people tend to be witty."

Megan Grumbling can be reached atmgrumbling@hotmail.com.

THE WORLD OF SHOLOM ALEICHEM | by Arnold Perl | Directed by Harlan Baker | Produced by the Acorn Studio Series, at the Acorn Studio Theater in Westbrook | through December 19 | 207.854.0065

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