The Last Yiddish Speaker – A Reading from West Coast Jewish Theatre

Sunday, August 11, 2024, the auditorium at the Venice United Methodist Church was packed with people eager to hear the first of the West Coast Jewish Theatre’s first session of their antisemitism play reading series.

The Last Yiddish Speaker, written by award-winning playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer, whose plays have been produced worldwide, was an eye-opener. Directed by artistic director/producer of the West Coast Jewish Theatre Howard Teichman the reading had everyone leaning forward to experience the story.

Set in 2029, just after the 2028 election …or maybe there hadn’t been an election this time…that wasn’t clear…but what was clear is that in this futuristic society, the White Christians ruled in a way very similar to the way the Nazis took over Germany. Jews were not allowed to live in the States nor were LGBT. One family, having been found hiding a gay couple, are harassed and thrown off their farm or murdered. Non-Christians were being told to “Go back where you came from.”

In this story, young Sarah (Keira Weiss) –who goes by the name of Mary in this town– is a senior in high school and argues with her father Paul (Roy Abramsohn) –who goes by the name John –that she wants to go to college in Canada. She knows that as Jews in hiding they are not welcome here and must pretend to be “good Christians.”

John (John Woodley), a boy in her class who likes Mary, but is also one of the “blue shirts” in charge of checking everyone’s home to make sure there is nothing ‘Illegal or hiding” in the town, says he doesn’t understand Mary’s “outrageous comments” about girls going to college, abortion, or her strange liberal views. He puts it all to her and her father having come from the city. He tries to ‘understand’ her even as he searches their home for contraband.

Even as the pair in hiding try to decide their future in this alien town a visitor drops into their house. Wearing a babushka (scarf), a woman speaking only Yiddish – Aunt Chava (Cheryl David) – is dropped off at their home. She throws out hints about having been around 5,000 years and having seen the Crusades, but Paul thinks the woman, whom he doesn’t recognize, isn’t a relative but is possibly demented.

Fearful of what will happen to them if she is found, Paul wants to send her back to where she came from…but where was that? No one knows.

However, a fascinated Sarah wants to know more about Yiddish, about Judaism and is excited as Aunt Chava teaches her to light the Sabbath candles.

Every time John comes over to check the house, Sarah must hide Aunt Chava. As the romance between Sarah and John deepens, he wants her to “fit in” with their society, but she resists.

Then, the night of the prom, John discovers Aunt Chava and the hidden pair must admit who they are. Saying he loves Sarah, the boy is torn between reporting them and helping them.

Giving into his “Christian duty”, he returns to Paul and Sarah telling them to leave. They find that Aunt Chava has mysteriously disappeared.

Agreeing to drive Sarah to Canada, John takes off with her leaving Paul behind.

Hearing the mob from the town edging closer with their hateful cries…Paul picks up his rifle.

Charles Shapiro served as the narrator.

The play left shivers in me knowing that should the election go a certain way, this could be a possible scary and dangerous outcome. 

There are two more play readings in this series. On Sunday, August 25^th, 2024, the West Coast Jewish Theatre presents Two Jews Walk Into A War by Seth Rozin (a comedy) and on Sunday, Sept 8^th, 2024, you’ll be hearing Lebensraum by Israel Horovitz – another futuristic warning of the future. Both look to be excellent and thought-provoking plays.  Ticket prices are $30/play or $80 for all three with a slight extra charge for credit cards. More information can be hard on their web site or by calling 323 821 2449. All the plays will be at the Venice United Methodist Church, 1020 Victoria Ave, Venice, Ca 90291.

For anyone who cares about the future, these plays are a must see. This play won the 13th National Jewish Playwriting Contest and received additional development by the Jewish Plays Project at the Berkshire Theatre Group.