A fateful collision of a Polish Countess, a Jewish Tailor and a young German Captain during the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland....

Unlocking answers about life, love and survival.

Production Stage Manager -- Suzanne Campagna

Assistant Stage Manager -- Sue Ozeran

Lighting and Sound Operator -- Jonathan Harrison

Lighting and Set Design -- John Lant

Stage/Set Construction/Rigging -- John Lant

Score and Arrangements -- Clyde Derrick

Drapery -- David Woodle

Seamstress -- Ashley Trevathan

Cast

Captain Erich von Tempelhoff ... Dennis Baker

Count Krystian Sobieski ... Graham Barnard

Perl Zontag ... Dana Lyn Baron (Ashley Trevathan, understudy)

Countess Klara Sobieska ... Elizabeth A. Hillman

Jacob, Pakulski, Fritz ... David Lengel, Micah Cover

Shlomo Zontag ... Ralph Lister

Abrasha, Piekarski, Franz ... David Quinones

Tzupa, Piekiwiecz ... Ashley Trevathan

Sarah ... Sue Ozeran

Ralph Lister, Dana Lyn Baron

Write Act Rep Strikes An Historical Chord

With Its New Offering
The World Premiere Of

Teshuvah  Written By Clyde Derrick

Coinciding with the High Holidays and the 10-day period of teshuvah (looking within) or period of reckoning observed by devout Jews, Teshuvah takes place in September 1939. It is a story of life, love and survival for three disparate people who meet fatefully during the German blitzkrieg: a fiery Polish countess, Klara Sobieksa; a conscientious Jewish tailor, Shlomo Zontag; and an inexperienced young German captain, Erich von Tempelhoff.  During the invasion, Klara is held prisoner in her own manor home as bait for her missing husband Krystian, a leader of the Polish resistance.  Here she discovers that Shlomo evaded incarceration by the invading Nazis and is hiding and starving in her closet.  In the weeks that follow, Klara sustains the hidden Shlomo while Erich questions, bullies and falls in love with her. 

Graham Barnard

Author/composer/lyricist Clyde Derrick and Director Wendy Gough collaborate to create a stirring combination of original and traditional music that weaves the production together transporting the audience to 1939 Poland.

Dana Lyn Baron

Clyde Derrick’s was co-author of the critically acclaimed production of Transports of the Heart in 2002 with former Artistic Director Gene Franklin Smith; as well as the book, music and lyrics for Angel's Flight in 2001.  “Every author has a unique source of inspiration for their work.  Sometimes it is intensely personal,” Derrick says. “The process of writing Teshuvah started out like any other– obsessive research followed by a rather bleary feeling, a painstaking outline, and then sitting down to turn that outline into a play.  If this weird and haunting journey to Teshuvah has been real, as I believe it has, I hope I have honored those voices that visited me in my sleep and compelled me to write.”

Director Wendy Gough, first introduced to Write Act audiences while playing the role of Esther Summerson in the critically acclaimed production of Bleak House, marks her fourth directorial project at Write Act.    She was most recently seen as Imogen in Write Act's production of Cymbeline.  Trained at the Hilberry Repertory Company in Detroit and the Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre in Blue Lake, California, Wendy is no stranger to the demands of Repertory work.  "To be acting Shakespeare one night, directing a new work the next -- is thrilling, and each creative process feeds the next."

Dennis Baker

Producing Artistic Director John Lant states, “In my first full year at Write Act Rep, I wanted to produce a project that would reflect my deep commitment to new works. Using the most creative aspects of the live theatrical experience, this production offers some of the most inventive design with visual metaphor, imaginative staging, and dynamically integrated sound and music, to Los Angeles theatre patrons. Write Act Rep’s focus is to cultivate cutting-edge new plays that make a difference while speaking with diversity."

Ralph Lister, Elizabeth A. Hillman

TOLUCAN TIMES 12-13-04

‘Teshuvah’ – Another Outstanding New Play from Write Act

 Dana Lyn Baron, Ralph Lister

By Mary Mallory

Write Act Repertory Company once again presents outstanding new work in its emotional, highly creative new production of “Teshuvah.” Teshuvah is the 10-day period between the Jewish High Holy Days where individuals look within and confront their actions.

The characters in “Teshuvah” must wrestle with their consciences as the Germans blitzkrieg into Poland in September 1939, bringing together Klara Sobieska, a fiery Polish countess, with the devout Jewish tailor Shlomo Zontag, and inexperienced German Captain Erich von Tempelhoff.

Klara is imprisoned in her own home while Shlomo hides in her closet. She sustains him during the following weeks while Erich confronts, questions, and slowly falls in love with her. Director Wendy Gough draws emotionally intense performances from the entire cast. Elizabeth A. Hillman’s Countess Klara Sobieska is ferocious, tough, and sarcastic but also thoughtful, kind, and considerate to the less fortunate. She radiates passion. As Captain Erich von Tempelhoff, Dennis Baker brings a naive indecisiveness to the cultured, serious man. Chemistry is strong between the captain and the countess as they warily dance around each other. Ralph Lister’s Shlomo Zontag is vulnerable, sensitive, warm and expressive, especially when confronting the demons from his past and the location of his missing family.

Graham Barnard, Elizabeth A. Hillman

Production values are also strong. Director Wendy Gough fleshes out what it means to look in and confront the ghosts of lost loved ones that continue to haunt us. Back panels, when lit from behind, can be seen through, so that Shlomo’s hiding place is also a repository for past memories. John Lant’s sets range from the tiny, simple dining room of the Jewish house to the grand scale of the Polish drawing room. His lighting also highlights the differences between the Poles and Germans, with white light signifying Polish being spoken, and red signifying German.

Writer Clyde Derrick’s original songs and arrangements throb with emotion and longing. They range from simple folk songs, klezmer-like ghetto songs to the Polish anthem. Graham Barnard with his strong tenor voice and Dana Lyn Baron with her delicate vibrato richly bring the songs to life.

Ralph Lister

An original production that highlights the values of hope, honor, and respect in a world of darkness and violence, “Teshuvah” is an outstanding work that forces the audience to confront how their own actions affect others.

Photos: Lou Briggs