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A History of The Folksbiene

 

The Lonesome Ship
by Moshe Dluzkowsky

1956-1957 Season

Radin Auditorium
128 Stanton Street
New York, NY

 

On December 29, 1956, in the Radin Auditorium, there was staged under the direction of David Licht, Di eynzame shif (The Lonesome Ship), a drama in three acts by Moshe Dluzkowsky, with sets by Harry Baum.

The play was performed on ten weekends.

About the offering, Dr. N. Sverdlin writes:

" ... The ensemble has immersed himself deeply in the fate of each of the heroes. They not only played, but also expressed themselves with the pain of the bloodied Jewish heart. ... Under David Licht's direction, the Folksbiene has brought a smart, cultured performance."

S. Dingol writes:

" ... The play, the direction, the acting were an amazement. It was a joy to see the will and the power of a small group to give a performance that no major theatre, including the Art Theatre, would be ashamed of."

B. Shefner writes:

" ... They portrayed a multicolored gallery of living and whole characters who often force you to forget that in front of us were actors who were furthermore not professionals. it is a sublime production."

Chaim Ehrenreich writes:

" ... Everyone came. To everyone who participated in the performance; the playwright, the stage director, the actor, the set designer, the person in charge of lighting --- a very deep thank you. That they successfully transformed the uncomfortable stage of the Radin Theatre, is a mystery and a revelation; they managed to conquer worlds entirely on the deck of an old broken-down ship; They managed to keep us -- the tired and exhausted New York spectator -- excited from the very first second until the last."

Abraham Yudin remarks:

"This is a play that delves into the viewer to the deepest depths. ... The drama cries out with a mighty wrath and protest, with fierce anger and protest against those who mean to forget what the Nazi beasts had done to six-million Jews. ... It cannot be said that the play is entirely free of defects. ... Here and there is a little too much speech and some things go on too long. More editing would not hurt."

And Joel Entin writes:

" ... As for the directing itself, it is excellent; almost all the actors and actresses performed well, full of character, sincerely, convincingly  -- for themselves and for the audience."


 

 



Renee Spector and Joshua Zeldis in "The Lonesome Ship"
Photograph by the Ivan Busatt studio.
Courtesy of the Museum of the City of New York.

 
The Cast of Characters:   The Synopsis:
 
Time: Summer, 1941
 
ACT I
(Six o'clock in the morning)

     For ten long days and nights the cargo-ship "Esperance" is sailing on the waters of the Atlantic in the Spanish-Portuguese zone.

     One destiny awaits the several hundred people, mostly Jews, whom the brave French Captain Leblan had rescued from under the murderous German heels.  Some have hope and confidence in the savior, others do not . . . 

     The sun rises, after ten cloudy dismal days at sea.  The sun rises and . . . sets. And so rises the hope of the people on the ship -- rises. . . and fades.  The periscope of a submarine is spotted.  It is a German submarine and is following the "Esperance." Why is this armored monster trailing a cargo-ship with unarmed, homeless and frightened people?

     Hans Kremer, the German Jewish actor is certain that: "They are after our ship, they are out to destroy us. . . I know them."  The Bohemian wanderer, Henri Posner thinks:  "Our ship is like Noah's Ark."

     A radiogram is received that Captain Leblan is condemned to death because he left port without the permission of the German authorities.

     Will this Noah's Ark survive? . . . 


 
ACT II
(Same afternoon)

     The "Esperance" is without food or drinking water and the port of Gibraltar is still far away.

     The submarine sends out a message:  "Captain, there is a spy, murderer and Jew aboard your ship, a man bearing the name Victor Schlissel. If this criminal is not surrendered by six in the evening, we will torpedo the "Esperance."

     Is then the man really on board?  The Germans will not take "no" for an answer. He must be!  If not. . .

     Nothing will help:  Not the renegade talk of the former singer, Karl Balsam, who in the presence of danger and death, wants to renounce his Jewish faith . . . nor the pleas and cries for pity . . . not even the fantastic plan of the American, Florence Carmel, to head the ship for the United States.

     Does it matter to the pursuers that Annette Feder, the young, beautiful Parisian girl has just begun to recognize life, the reality of life, and that here on the ship she and Henri Posner have fallen love?

     The "Esperance" is in grave danger.  Panic mounts.  One suspects the other of false identity.  The Captain tries to spread hope and encouragement, but gloom and despair envelope everyone.

     But -- "No need to worry, play on, my guitar," philosophizes the stoic Spaniard, Carlos Rodriguez, "many things can happen in two hours" . . .


 
ACT III
Scene I
(Late afternoon)
 

     The ultimatum is still in force, time is racing by and running out -- and no miracle takes place on the "Esperance."

     But something does happen.  One person is ready to sacrifice his life in order to save these hundreds of people.  An act of pure humanism.  Henri Posner's love for Annette inspires him to heroism and self-sacrifice.  Can the brave  and humane Captain Leblan accept this sacrifice?  Henri Posner wants to surrender himself as Victor Schlissel . . . 

     Only a few minutes and the ultimatum will be carried out . . . 

     And what is to be later?  What after the sacrifice?  Is not Victor Schlissel only an excuse? . . .  But it is important to gain time,  time . . . 

     Time is won for the price of a . . . life . . .  a beautiful life.


 
Scene II
(Evening of same day)
 

     The armored monster makes new demands.  He will not be satisfied.  He wants to annihilate everyone, even the German woman on board who served the Germans faithfully.

     The first torpedo is exploded.  The "Esperance is damaged.  Two British airplanes arrive in time to hit and sink the submarine.

     The "Esperance" has earned her name -- hope.  And sailing to a port of safety the several hundred rescued human beings sing out a song of life . . . life, and a song of thankfulness and praise . . . praise for their heroic saviors -- Henri Posner and Captain Charles Leblan.

From right: Leo Pshepurka, Jacob Holtz, Jacob Belogorsky, Nachmen Erlich, Renee Spector, Anna Levine, Bronia Newman, Joshua Zeldis, Anna Tarle, Morris Adler, Michael Neiditch, Hyman Zaner and Ely Arnou.

From left: Sara Stabin and Bronia Newman
above photographs courtesy of YIVO

 



Production photo from "The Lonesome Ship"
courtesy the "Lexicon of the Yiddish Theatre"






 

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