Join the Passengers Aboard the MS St. Louis – “Witness” as the World Turns Away

Jan 3, 2022 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Sue Weston and Susie Rosenbluth – Two Sues on the Aisle

“Witness”, an interactive performance by Arlekin Players Theatre and Zero Gravity Lab, launches the next generation of virtual theater. Things may not be as they appear. Witness pushes the boundaries by blurring the lines, as only the theater can, between reality and perception. Boldly exploring and exposing the Jewish-American experience. “Witness” was conceived and directed by Igor Golyak, written by Nana Grinstein with Blair Cadden and Igor Golya based on interviews, historic materials, and presented through an emigrant’s eyes with a perspective that extends over generations. With a backward look at the legendary voyage with over 937 Jewish passengers who left Hamburg, Germany shortly after Kristallnacht, headed to Cuba abound the MS St. Louis, and a forward glance at reality in Boston today. Begging the question Where do unwanted people go?

Narrated masterfully by our emcee (Gene Ravvin), who explains the participation guidelines, welcomes us to the performance, and then steps outside for a smoke. He expresses reluctance in being involved in this performance. Yet, returns to the stage, his composure recovered, inviting us to judge the talent show. He acclimates us to the boat, a floating paradise, with a swimming pool, roller skating, and a nightclub, where the passengers participate in a talent show. At end of each performance, we, the audience vote. We also earn points, like a video game for clicking on information (with our score displayed).

Narrated by our emcee (Gene Ravvin)

Talent Show

As the show progresses, each performance is a rendition of their story, showcasing the persecution they experienced in pieces entitled skating on ice, Kristallnacht, and balancing a house of cards. These are real people. The audience has supplemental information for each performer including pictures and a short bio. Both the passengers and the actors are immigrants looking for a safe haven. These are real people.

Thus began an exciting, interactive, incredible experience. We witness the journey of the MS St. Louis.

Until the pattern is broken, and we jump ahead several decades to the 1970s. The performer, an immigrant, is cooking the books. The next two performances, again jump forward in time, as we experience the Jewish migration from Russia. Our emcee is concerned, but we vote anyway.

Talent show performance, Russian immigrant, cooking the books

And then, the festivities are interrupted by a death onboard, Dr. Moritz Weilder, and we participate in a funeral service. This event is part of the historic account of the voyage.

Darkness and Whispers

After reaching harbor in Cuba the MS. St. Louis is turned away. The United States and Canada refused sanctuary. The passengers are sent to their cabins to await instructions for disembarking. The theater goes dark, the audience listens, to whispers, giving us only a brief insight into the fear and panic these passengers experienced. We hear the chatter, as measures are taken to secure a safe dock, emphasizing that turning the boat away, would send these voyagers to certain death in Europe. As one of the passengers said ‘‘I don’t understand how the world could watch this and nobody did anything about it.” But we know from history that the world turned a deaf ear.

The audience was instructed to listen to this segment through headphones, effectively blocking out all other sounds, and focusing on the voices in the darkness. It was effective and chilling.

After reaching harbor in Cuba the MS. St. Louis is turned away

Ghosts of Today

We transition into confusion, as our emcee begins frantically trying to go home. He seems desperate to leave, claiming he does not belong on the boat. It is not 2020, and actors wander through the passageway, discussing contemporary issues facing Jewish-Americans. Sound bites include wearing a kippa, assimilation, Israel, immigrants being only guests in the US. They remind each other that despite their blending in, and keeping their head down, the German would consider all of them Jewish, and debate the need for American Jews’ dual loyalty with Israel.

This third segment is a collage of current issues, including the stabbing of an Orthodox Rabbi in Brighton. Despite the Black Lives Matter protests, this attack is not treated as anti-sematic. Why isn’t there a sense of outrage? As American-Jews “Where do we go now?” when the United States no longer provides safety. When misinformation is spreading through American culture, that invalidates the state of Israel, the Jew’s right to exist. Questioning the Jewish connection to the Middle East, point and counterpoint, showing the confusion and absence of Jewish unity.

We are witnessing a different form of anti-Semitism, which is positioned to gain sympathy, by confusing issues and distorting facts.

Stringing together a series of scenes, vignettes, conversations in the hall, including lighting Shabbat candles, our emcee is drawn into discussions of Jewishness in America. He is distracted but desperate attempts to leave, panicked that he does not belong on the ship.

Immersive Theater which hits Home

As Jews, we are all caught part of this voyage, challenged by the world to fit in, to renounce of heritage. “Witness” is a reminder that assimilation is a temporary illusion. Jewish immigrants chose American because it was supposed to be different, an escape from bias, hatred, journeying to a land with religious freedom. Is the only way to live in America is to renounce our heritage?

Recounting stories as they celebrate their wedding

The audience witnesses Jewish migration throughout history, observing recurring patterns and behaviors that invalidate the Jewish right to exist. To quote Golyak “I want to make anti-Semitism and hate visible to people so they see that it doesn’t live only with Nazis and in history but is here today. That’s the first step to trying to identify the problem”. One line from the play continues to haunt me ‘It is easier to morn a dead Jew than stand up for a living one’

“Witness“, is more than a theatrical experience, it is a call to action, for Jews to unite and claim our heritage.

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Two Sues on the Aisle bases its ratings on how many challahs it pays to buy (rather than make) in order to see the play, show, film, or exhibit being reviewed. 5 Challahs is our highest rating.

Witness received a 5 Challah Rating