STAGE STAGE [REVIEW] [REVIEW]
War, Loss and Hope War, Loss and Hope
Upstream Theater’s The Good Ship St. Louis reveals the The stories Upstream Theater’s GoodofShip refugees seekingthe a new home St. Louis reveals stories of refugees seeking a new home Written by TINA FARMER Written by TINA FARMER
The Good Ship St. Louis Script by Philip Boehm. Music by Anthony The Good Ship by St.Upstream Louis Theater Barilla. Presented through November 20.by Showtimes Script bySunday, Philip Boehm. Music Anthony vary. Tickets are $25 to $35. Theater Barilla. Presented by Upstream through Sunday, November 20. Showtimes vary. Tickets are $25 to $35.
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ne of the most disturbing outcomes of war is the displacement ne of the most disturbing outof people from their homes. Philip comes of war is the displacement Boehm’s heartfelt The Good Ship St. of people from their homes. Philip Louis tells the story of Jewish people Boehm’s heartfelt The Good Ship St. seeking a new home and an opportunity Louis tells the story of Jewish people to live without persecution. Produced by seeking a new home and an opportunity Upstream Theater, the world premiere to live without persecution. Produced by play with music by Anthony Barilla is, at Upstream Theater, the world premiere play with music by Anthony Barilla is, at
times, incredibly evocative and haunting. Susan, a registered nurse, recently times, incredibly evocative and haunting. lost her parents to COVID-19 and is sortSusan, a registered nurse, recently ing through their attic when she finds a lost her parents to COVID-19 and is sortsmall valise. The case contains several ing through their attic when she finds a items: newspaper clippings, a few letsmall valise. The case contains several ters, a very nice pair of opera glasses, items: newspaper clippings, a few letand such. These lead her to discover the ters, a very nice pair of opera glasses, story of the MS St. Louis and her past. and such. These lead her to discover the In Hitler’s Germany, Jews who could story of the MS St. Louis and her past. afford the passage were quickly filling In Hitler’s Germany, Jews who could ships and fleeing their homeland for afford the passage were quickly filling safety. The 3,000 who boarded the MS ships and fleeing their homeland for St. Louis and two other ships departing safety. The 3,000 who boarded the MS in May 1939 were among the last alSt. Louis and two other ships departing lowed to leave. On board were Herbert, in May 1939 were among the last ala German, and his Polish wife Rosa, a lowed to leave. On board were Herbert, young couple in love and hopeful. Their a German, and his Polish wife Rosa, a journey takes them to Cuba, up the coast young couple in love and hopeful. Their of the Americas and back toward Europe. journey takes them to Cuba, up the coast Finally, they are allowed to disembark in of the Americas and back toward Europe. Belgium. Soon, the same war they fled Finally, they are allowed to disembark in arrives on their new doorstep. Belgium. Soon, the same war they fled Kari Ely is transparently vulnerable and arrives on their new doorstep. innately curious as Susan, and she is our Kari Ely is transparently vulnerable and emotional guide through the densely layinnately curious as Susan, and she is our ered show. Jeff Cummings and Nancy Bell emotional guide through the densely layare a touch ethereal and so well matched ered show. Jeff Cummings and Nancy Bell as Herbert and Rosa. We easily feel their are a touch ethereal and so well matched as Herbert and Rosa. We easily feel their
Rosa (Nancy Bell) and Herbert (Jeff Cummings) are hopeful young émigrés. | COURTESY Rosa (Nancy Bell) and Herbert (Jeff Cummings) UPSTREAM THEATER are hopeful young émigrés. | COURTESY UPSTREAM THEATER every reaction, fear, disappointment and hope. Peter Mayer brings gravitas and every reaction, fear, disappointment and a touch of humility to Captain Gustav hope. Peter Mayer brings gravitas and Schröder, though he has the thankless a touch of humility to Captain Gustav task of doing much of the narration. Eric Schröder, though he has the thankless J. Conners, Kathleen Sitzer, Christopher task of doing much of the narration. Eric Hickey, Sarah Burke, Tom Wethington and J. Conners, Kathleen Sitzer, Christopher Miranda Jagles-Felix offer strong support Hickey, Sarah Burke, Tom Wethington and Miranda Jagles-Felix offer strong support
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in a variety of roles. Unfortunately, it is the “variety of in a variety of roles. roles” that proves problematic. The careUnfortunately, it is the “variety of fully crafted script contains the seeds of roles” that proves problematic. The carestories for so many traveling on the ship, fully crafted script contains the seeds of presenting a perfect opportunity to show stories for so many traveling on the ship, more and tell less. Playwright Boehm presenting a perfect opportunity to show does himself as director and the performmore and tell less. Playwright Boehm ers a disservice by introducing too many does himself as director and the performother immigrant stories. In this reviewer’s ers a disservice by introducing too many opinion, the over-inclusion treats these other immigrant stories. In this reviewer’s stories as a bit of an afterthought, diminopinion, the over-inclusion treats these ishing their importance. The production stories as a bit of an afterthought, diminincludes a number of transformative and ishing their importance. The production deeply moving scenes involving the priincludes a number of transformative and mary story. Creating more space for resodeeply moving scenes involving the prinance through a single focus may better mary story. Creating more space for resobuild empathy for broader truths about nance through a single focus may better war and its refugee victims. build empathy for broader truths about No matter where in the world the fightwar and its refugee victims. ing occurs, war inevitably causes the loss No matter where in the world the fightof life and home for those in its path, creing occurs, war inevitably causes the loss ating a wave of immigrant refugees seekof life and home for those in its path, creing a new home. Such was the case for ating a wave of immigrant refugees seekthe Jews who embarked on the cruise ing a new home. Such was the case for liner MS St. Louis, as well as the thouthe Jews who embarked on the cruise sands of current refugees just beginning liner MS St. Louis, as well as the thoua life in a new country or still looking for sands of current refugees just beginning a place to call home. n a life in a new country or still looking for a place to call home. n
NOVEMBER 9-15, 2022
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