Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
A MUST SEE AND NOT TO BE MISSED!
The spread of antisemitism in Poland and Germany from 1934 through 1939 is chillingly expressed in Paper Walls, a world premiere play by Elliot Shoenman. The story gives us a powerfully accurate picture of a time in history when Jewish families were pushed out of the area to search for a different place to call home, many looking to the United States in order to save their lives. These refugees needed to break free from the local violence and atrocities against them. As Hitler rose in power the situation worsened, many Jews were taken to concentration camps or killed on the spot.
When submitting immigration forms to the United States, Jews confronted the brutal reality of “paper walls,” set up by restrictive U.S. immigration policies, quotas, and bureaucratic delays, to keep them out.
After fleeing Poland and heading to Berlin to escape the extremes of antisemitism, the Goldman family created a flourishing egg business in a city that uses over one million eggs per month. Decadence and inflation take over the city, residents are enjoying drinks, sex and dance, to minimize the fear of uncertainty. The Nazi party strengthens, the Goldmans’ business is set on fire, and one of the sons beaten, close to death. The family has no choice but to flee from Germany as soon as possible. Being Polish Jews, the situation with bureaucracy gets even more tangled, so they must separate and find ways to get through the loopholes, until they can get together again.
Four talented actors portray multiple parts in this true story of trying to flee the Nazi’s and immigrate to the U.S. Each scene vividly unfolds, keeping audiences riveted, as a result of Darin Anthony’s wonderful direction and Justin Huen’s clever set & production design.
Additional creatives include Nita Mendoza (Lighting Design), Ben Rock (Projection Design), Marc Antonio Pritchett (Sound Design), brilliantly generating some striking scenes as the story moves forward on the stage. The projections are on four movable set pieces (what a great design), as if pulling the audience, almost cinematically, into the action.
The costumes were right on – so beautifully authentic for the time period, a phenomenal job. The production stage manager is Jonathan Strebe, and assistant stage manager Duncan Martinez, both dressed in period costumes of that time as they smoothly manage all the set changes. The producers of Paper Walls are Daniel Shoenman, Zoia Wiseman & Annie McVey. Fabulous job by all!
Dana Schwartz plays Sara Goldman (the mother), Lena, Trudy, and a dancer in a Berlin club (Bella), diving into all of her roles with full commitment, as do all of the actors. Warren Davis portrays the father, Herman Goldman as well as Hans, Sol Goldman, and Max. The two sons Derek Mason (the elder bother), and Casey J. Adler (younger brother), manage through their love for each other and their family, for everyone to survive and escape the Nazi regime. Mason, who drives the story loves the nightlife in Berlin and Adler, an intuitive one, sees the danger coming their way well in advance. He is hard working brother who also portrays the German officer, consul Official and Rabbi Stern.
A Note from the Playwright, “Paper Walls is used by Holocaust researchers and survivors when talking about United States immigration restrictions prior to World War Two. The play is historically accurate, and the immigration interview is verbatim, although the order of questions has been changed.” We can see how the delays were created and the entries into the United States was delayed for many desperate Jews families.
The approximate running time is 1 hour and 30 minutes with no intermission. The show runs through November 9that the Broadwater Main Stage Theatre, 1076 Lillian Way, Los Angeles, CA 90038. Tickets are $35 with PWYC tickets available for all performances.
For reservations: or https://inkwelltheater.com/