Genre: Historical drama, one-act play

Synopsis: Having lost his wife and children to the holocaust, JOZEF gets a second chance with his new wife HELENA to start again. The life of his new family is put at risk, though, when HELENA proves too anxiety-ridden to go for medical help for her delicate pregnancy. In a situation now where he has choices, JOZEF struggles to make the right one to save his family.

Characters:

JOZEF, a Polish Jewish man in his 40s; he oftens hum (hmm, hmm) to himself to calm himself while he contemplates

HELENA, JOZEF’s wife, a Polish Jewish woman in her early 20s

Time: Autumn 1945

Place: Cremona displaced persons camp in Northern Italy

Music: “Jozef’s Latest Tune, variation B,” written for this play, is available—from the playwright—in a production-quality recording as well as a score sheet.   

PROP LIST

Hebrew books

radios

violin

suitcase

men’s trousers

men’s shirt

men’s comb

ball of blood-soaked cloth

machorka

SOUNDS

Knock on door