Playwright Andrea Stolowitz’s extended Jewish family lived in Berlin in the 1930s during the rise of the Nazi party; they emigrated to New York City in 1939. Stolowitz’s parents believed that family members had all escaped the Nazis and the death march of the Holocaust. But when Stolowitz receives her great-grandfather’s diary, telling the story of the family’s life in Berlin, she realizes there is more to the story than she had previously known. That story becomes her play, The Berlin Diaries, staged by Open Space Arts/Arts Judaica, and directed by Izadorius Tortuga.
The play tells the story of how Stolowitz goes to Germany to find answers to questions that the diary provokes. She will incorporate them into the play she’s writing, with the help of a grant to support the project. Although the story of the diary seems like a straightforward concept, the play leaps back and forth in time and location. We are not always sure where we are or who is speaking at any given moment. But Stolowitz’s story is compelling and no doubt has parallels with that of other Americans whose families escaped Germany, Poland, France and other countries as World War II loomed.
Two actors—Eliana Deckner-Glick and Artem Kreimer—play all the roles. Their performances are superb, as they move from character to character, from youth to age, speaking in English, accented English or partly in German. The story is further illuminated by images as well as by a large wall chart that Andrea and other characters expand as their research continues.
Andrea’s grandfather Max tells her, “I couldn’t foresee that I myself would one day sail over the Atlantic Ocean, not as a tourist who is traveling for pleasure, but as an emigrant in order to leave behind me for good all the disappointments of Europe…. and to begin a new American life, while my parents are still lying below the headstone in the Weissensee cemetery of Berlin, Germany.”
Part of Andrea’s research is visiting Weissensee Cemetery to locate the graves of her ancestors, her great-great-grandparents, whose headstone is mentioned in the diary. It’s a difficult search, even with three maps and directions she receives from the clerks in the cemetery office. (That experience spoke truth to me as I’ve spent similar time tracking down my ancestors’ headstones in old cemeteries, where the search can be confusing even with maps and location numbers.)
Seeing The Berlin Diaries will probably bring up your own memories of hearing stories or seeking information on your own family. We all have done that, haven’t we? And entities like Ancestry, My Heritage and Legacy Tree only provide so much help. Sometimes we have to follow Andrea Stolowitz’s path and visit the old village or the ancient cemetery.
Director Tortuga does a skillful job in his Chicago directing debut. The personal stories and European history come alive through the performances of Deckner-Glick and Kreimer. Set and scenic design by Vizcaya Wilson provides a cozy corner and wall displays for The Berlin Diaries. Lighting design is by Gabe Seplow with projections by Joel Zishuk.
The Berlin Diaries, presented by Open Space Arts/Arts Judaica in association with Her Story Theater, continues through January 5 at Open Space Arts, 1411 W. Wilson Ave. Running time is 90 minutes with no intermission. Please note that seating is very limited so be sure to reserve tickets in advance. Tickets are $25 with discounts available.
For more information on this and other productions, see theatreinchicago.com.
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