HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
‘The Book of Joseph’ now at Chicago Shakespeare Theater through March 5, 2017, is scary. That’s not in a ghostly sense, but in the way past signs seem to repeat themselves.
Photo by Liz Lauren
The play, a world premiere by Karen Hartman developed with Creative Producer Rick Boynton, relates the Hollander family’s horrific experiences during World War II and then continues the story in current times in the United States.
The first half of the play is based on letters that Joseph Hollander, brilliantly portrayed by Sean Fortunato, received and saved from his large family in Krakow, Poland.
His mother, sisters and spouses plus two nieces were not willing to leave when Joseph got them all the needed papers and visas. A wealthy, well-traveled lawyer who saw what was happening, Joseph leaves for Portugal with wife Felicja Hollander (Gail Shapiro) and a ward, the 14-year-old son of a friend. Entry to Portugal was denied so they were taken to the US and Ellis Island.
Continue reading “Historically important story still relevant”