Salon and the Holocaust

When my Sweetie and I selected Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay for Salon, we knew that it would be a difficult read emotionally. But what I didn’t expect was to learn about another Holocaust atrocity that neither of us had ever heard about. As it turns out, no one in our group had.

Of course, I had to do some research since the book is fiction. Much to my dismay the author did not embellish the events of the Vél’ d’hiv’ Round-up as it unfolded in Paris on July 16-17, 1942.

In the middle of the night, 4051 children, 5802 women and 3031 men were dragged from their homes and incarcerated. Most were sent to the indoor bicycling racing arena, the Velodrome d'hiver.

The publication of the Mouvement de Libération Nationale, Combat, described it:

“The Vél d’hiv looked like a scene from hell. Eight thousand Jews were camping there, living literally in their excrement, with nothing to eat or drink for three days. Men died. Women gave birth. The clamor raised prevented the neighborhood’s residents from sleeping for three nights.”

All were sent to Auschwitz.

For decades the French ignored this most ignoble part of their World War II history.

Then on July 16, 1995, Jacques Chirac became the first President to speak at the annual commemoration. It was the first time that the complicity of the French state in the persecution of Jews was recognized by a President.

Chirac declared:

“These dark hours will forever soil our history, and are injurious to our past and our traditions. Yes, the criminal insanity of the occupier was seconded by the French, by the French state.
France, home of the Enlightenment and of Human Rights, land of refuge and asylum, France, upon that day, committed an irreparable act. Breaking her word, she delivered her charges to their executioner.”

Before the 1995 commemoration, the Vel d’Hiv Roundup was relatively unknown outside the Jewish community in France.

And, if we hadn’t selected Sarah’s Key, it would still be unknown to our group.

After we chose it, I discovered that it had been made into a movie and was shown at some film festivals here and abroad. At the Toronto festival, The Weinstein Company bought all U.S. rights to the French film, Elle s’appelait Sarah or Sarah's Key as it is called here. Its US release date is July 22, 2011.






*****

Thanks to my brother Richard for bringing this book to my attention.

Signs of Spring

Sunshine,
Crocuses in bloom,
Riding with the top down

Who could ask for anything more?

Two Fridays, Two Plays

What a difference a week makes.

On March 11, my Sweetie and I were enthralled by Dobama Theatre’s A Steady Rain. The two actors, Scott Plate and Jeremy Kendall, superbly portrayed two Chicago cops who have been life-long friends. Passed over repeatedly for promotion to detective, the two react in different ways. Joey takes the sensitivity training offered by the department; however, bigoted Denny, blaming everyone but himself, continues his downward spiral.

The set was stark and reminiscent of a dimly-lit police interrogation room. A gray rectangular metal table with two chairs were the only furniture.

A Steady Rain

It was the first time in a long time that I leapt out of my seat as soon as the actors appeared for their curtain call.

Tonight I enjoyed Shrek: The Musical at the Palace. The magnificent, enormous dragon required at least three puppeteers to flap her wings, curl her barbed tail, and toss her head all while moving about and above the stage singing. Carrie Compere’s amazing voice brought the dragon to life. But Donkey is still my favorite character. Alan Mingo, Jr. made the role his own.

The set was all about bright colors. After all, it is a happy-ever-after fairy tale.

Shrek

The two theaters could not be more different. For about 40 years Dobama was located in a renovated bowling alley in the basement of one of the shops on Coventry. Then the public library purchased the closed YMCA across the street and partnered with Dobama to turn the pool area into a theater. The standing joke goes that now one no longer hears the toilet flush during the play. The theater seats about 200, depending on the staging.

The Palace opened in 1922 and cost $3.2 million. It closed in the late 60s and was rescued by visionaries in the 1970s. It is part of the Playhouse Square complex along with the Allen, the Hanna, the Ohio, and the State. It is the second largest theater district in the country with Lincoln Center being the largest. The theater seats about 2700 and is home to the Broadway Series.

We are so fortunate to have so many options when it comes to live theater.