By Eva Trieger
SOLANA BEACH, California — Who is the more credible source, one who has witnessed something, or one who has researched it thoroughly? This is the crux of an upcoming and provocative reading of The Soap Myth, a benefit for North Coast Repertory Theater in Solana Beach.
The play, written by Baltimore native, Jeff Cohen, was the result of an encounter he had following a production in a Tribeca theater. An elderly man, Morris Spitzer, asked Cohen to read an article that detailed how the Nazis made soap from the fat of murdered Jews. Cohen read the piece, but it wasn’t until 2012 that he had developed a script that he felt conveyed the struggle between a survivor’s memory and a Holocaust scholar’s dedication to sharing only that which is proved to be factual.
Over the next few years, “concert readings” were done in New York, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and other cities around the country. The topic is especially sensitive because if any detail is lacking concrete evidence, it opens the door for doubt and invites Holocaust deniers to challenge every aspect of the era, as well as usher in a tide of antisemitism. While Saltzman knows what he witnessed, he struggles to get his story validated. He cannot accept the museum’s rejection of his memory because he lived through the atrocity. Yet, the historians hold a hard line at not promoting that which is not 100-percent documented.
For two nights only, January 24 and 25, North Coast Rep audiences are invited to a very special benefit starring Richard Dreyfuss, Dee Pelletier, Emily Goss, and Christopher Williams. Dreyfuss has played the role previously, replacing Ed Asner as Holocaust survivor, Milton Saltzman. Emily Goss plays the role of young journalist, Annie Blumberg. Blumberg is quite impacted by Saltzman’s story, but must also square her article with input from the Holocaust scholars. Dee Pelletier and Christopher Williams each play a handful of roles, including Holocaust historians and deniers.
Dreyfuss, an Oscar winner, and renowned actor has been a powerful and supportive friend to North Coast Rep, and his participation in this reading demonstrates his commitment to the arts and the content of this somber topic. The actor and director hope that this script has a future in London in the near future.
An added bonus to the evenings’ importance, is the talkback that will follow the show on January 24th. Noted Holocaust scholar, Michael Berenbaum will be on hand for a moderated discussion with Rick Salomon. Berenbaum has served as the former project director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. On January 25 patrons will be invited to a talkback with the writer and cast.
Berenbaum acknowledges that although Jewish corpses were most certainly used by Nazis, there is no evidence to support Spitzer’s claim that soap was made from Holocaust victims. Well-documented are the facts that teeth were extracted for precious gold and that hair was used for submarine linings and textiles.
Artistic Director, David Ellenstein shared that he is choosing to do this play now because he doesn’t want to allow our memories of the Holocaust to “fade into obscurity…when there are no longer witnesses, we must keep alive the thought of how we remember things.”
The Soap Myth; North Coast Rep; Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m.; benefit readings tickets may be purchased at northcoastrep.org for $100, of which $80 is a tax-deductible donation.
*
Eva Trieger is a Solana Beach-based freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com
It is so important to remember and never forget those who we lost in The Holocaust. Thank you for presenting this ..