Bema Productions\u2019 The Last Yiddish Speaker cast, director and crew: standing, left to right, Tess Nolan, Kevin McKendrick, Andrea Eggenberger, Nolan McConnell-Fidyk and Ian Case; seated, Siobhan Davies, left, and Zelda Dean. The play imagines a world in which the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol in Washington, DC, was successful and Christian nationalists have taken over the United States. <\/i>(photo by Peter Nadler)<\/i><\/p>\n
Victoria\u2019s Bema Productions is staging the international premiere of Deborah Laufer\u2019s The Last Yiddish Speaker<\/i> at Congregation Emanu-El\u2019s Black Box Theatre June 18-29.<\/p>\n
The drama imagines a dystopian world in which the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol in Washington, DC, was successful and Christian nationalists have taken over the United States. In the play, a Jewish father and daughter must be careful and cunning, as any deviation from the norm could be deadly. When an aged Yiddish-speaking woman lands on their doorstep, they must decide whether to take the risk of helping the woman or focus on saving themselves.<\/p>\n
Laufer has numerous full-length plays to her credit, as well as dozens of short plays and even musicals (written with composer Daniel Green). Her plays have been produced around the world and she has been recognized with numerous awards.<\/p>\n
While The Last Yiddish Speaker<\/i> focuses on Judaism and the right for Jews to exist, the play could be about any marginalized group, in any country.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough the play is set in the USA, the theme is universal: the struggle of good over evil,\u201d Zelda Dean, founder and managing artistic director of Bema, told the Independent. \u201cIn this play, Canada is still a safe place for Jews.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That said, it has a message for Canadian audiences, as well, Dean said. \u201cIt is very important that we address social and political issues, particularly with the huge increase in antisemitism in Canada. The play is entertaining, engaging and enlightening. It takes place in 2029, when the fascists have taken over the USA. It is timely and powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n Directed by Kevin McKendrick, The Last Yiddish Speaker<\/i> features Ian Case, Siobhan Davies, Nolan McConnell-Fidyk and Dean.<\/p>\n McKendrick is an award-winning director, notably being recognized by the Alberta Theatre Projects for significant contributions to theatre in Calgary. Case, a veteran stage actor on Vancouver Island, is also a director and arts advocate. Davies, meanwhile, is a stage and cinematic performer \u2013 she will be appearing in the upcoming film Allure<\/i>, shot in Victoria. McConnell-Fidyk is a local actor who appeared in Survivors<\/i>, a play aimed at spreading information about the Holocaust to audiences from Grade 6 and up. (See jewishindependent.ca\/theatre-that-educates and jewishindependent.ca\/survivors-play-brings-tears.)<\/p>\n Before the November 2024 presidential elections, Laufer told Philadelphia public radio station WHYY about her reasons for writing the play, including that she was deeply disturbed by the events of Jan. 6. \u201cI thought, \u2018Is this the end? Is our democracy completely ended?\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe play reminds us there are times in history when we have the choice to speak out against oppression or choose to remain silent. You get the government you deserve,\u201d McKendrick told the Independent<\/i>. \u201cHow will you respond when faced with outright injustice?\u201d<\/p>\n