By Shari Barrett
Exodus: The Shanghai Jews, an original, L.A. Theatre Works-commissioned audio docudrama by Kate McAll, recounts the true stories of eight refugees who escaped Nazi persecution to settle in sub-tropical Shanghai – the last place they could ever have imagined living. It all begins after the Anschluss (German occupation of Austria) in 1938 when Dr. Feng Shan Ho, the Chinese Consul-General in Vienna, offered unlimited visas to Jews seeking to escape Nazi-occupied Europe. As a result, about 20,000 Jews settled in Shanghai between 1938 and 1941. While living side-by-side peacefully with their new Chinese neighbors, they established synagogues, businesses and enjoyed the opportunities afforded them in a big city full of educated people. But after the Japanese invaded Shanghai during World War II, the refugees found themselves again living under harsh conditions.
Recorded before a live audience over the course of four performances at UCLA’s James Bridges Theater, Exodus features veteran actors Edita Brychta, Shannon Cochran, Arye Gross, Anna Mathias, Alan Shearman, André Sogliuzzo, and Joanne Whalley sharing “eight personal narratives that give us a glimpse into a fascinating, little-known piece of history,” says director Anna Lyse Erikson. “Each story is a tale of tragedy and triumph.”
All the true stories intertwine chronologically, first describing each of their lives in Vienna as young children living freely, who were then forced to face antisemitism before and after the Nazi occupation began on March 13, 1938. One boy aged six spoke of being the only Jewish student in his school and how it made him always feel different from everyone else during his entire life. Another boy’s parents even forced him into another classroom when they did not want their own son in the same room with a Jew. A young man of 16 spoke about his desire to be a magician, so he spent the little money he had on a tuxedo, fancy shirts, shoes, and a deck of cards to try and make his way into the outside world.
A young woman spoke about how she agreed to marry the man she was dating so they could leave with her daughter as a “family” since passage was easier to book that way. Once they could afford a ticket, each of the eight immigrated to Shanghai, literally taking a slow boat to China through the Suez Canal. Of course, they knew what they were getting out of but not what they were getting into. For though they had escaped one war, they were about to wind up in the middle of another, forced by the Japanese to live in one-room “camps” in the worst part of town. But fortunately, the antisemitism rampant in Europe was not as present in China, so the refugees were still able to work and move around freely.
Each then shared how after World War II ended, they were able to leave Shanghai. The final destination for most was New York City, a place where there were “so many interesting people” and possibilities for those strong enough to face the challenges of making a new life themselves in yet another country. And at the end of the docudrama when one of the survivors admitted the best thing in the world was hearing her granddaughter say, “Grandma, let me hug you,” her tears flowed as she realized happiness was finally present in her life.
Exodus: The Shanghai Jews offers a very moving, emotionally-packed, Theater-of-the-Mind listening experience, opening your imagination to the wonders of storytelling. I guarantee you will be fascinated with each of their true tales about the horrors of war, antisemitism, and the joy of finally finding a place you can truly call home. I encourage you to listen to this all-encompassing audio docudrama with your entire family and have meaningful conversations about it, especially in the face of antisemitism again rearing its ugly head in today’s world. Now available for digital download for $4.99 at latw.org. Run time is 86 minutes without an intermission.
The docudrama’s producer, L.A. Theatre Works, stands apart in its approach to making great theater widely accessible and affordable, bringing plays into homes and classrooms of millions of theater lovers, teachers, and students each year. The company’s syndicated audio theater series broadcasts weekly on public radio stations across the U.S. (locally, in Southern California, on KPFK 90.7 FM).
The L.A. Theatre Works catalog of over 600 recorded plays is the largest archive of its kind in the world, featuring classics by William Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw, Henrik Ibsen and Lillian Hellman, as well as new works by current and upcoming authors. All selections can be downloaded as a podcast via iTunes, NPR One, or wherever you get your podcasts, and can be streamed on demand at latw.org. Do yourself a favor and tune in!
During the past few months, I have thoroughly enjoyed attending live tribute concerts produced by Sterling Venue Ventures at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills. Last week, I attended the stunning Prince Tribute by Prince Again to rock in the New Year! The venue is the perfect place to enjoy drinks with friends at two bars or dinner before the show at reserved tables, and then dance to great live music in a relaxed social atmosphere. In fact, it’s like stepping into a time machine (with much better lighting effects) accompanied by others remembering the music of our younger days with great fondness while being able to enjoy adult beverages and dance the night away!
And now, Sterling Venue Ventures is bringing an exciting line-up of shows in January to The Canyon Club, 28912 Roadside Dr. in Agoura Hills 91301, with doors opening at 6 p.m. for those reserving a table for dinner, with the headliner going on at 9 p.m.. The January line-up includes Country Night Wednesdays beginning January 3; College Night Thursdays (with $5 drinks and $.99 tacos and pizza) beginning January 4; AC/DC Tribute by Bonfire on January 5 ; Eagles Tribute by The Long Run on January 6; Van Halen Tribute by Fan Halen on January 12; Through the Years: Decades of Rock with opening set by Def Leppard Tribute Hysteria on January 13; Steely Dan Tribute by Doctor Wu on January 14; Southern Rock Tribute by Blue Sky Revival with opening set by Dallas Walker on January 18; Missing Persons on January 19; Tone Loc on January 20; Give Back Through Music Presents American Classics: Honoring Leslie West on January 23; Dave Matthews Tribute by Fake Matthews Band: 90s/2000s Rock Tribute to Decadent Decades on January 26; and Pink Floyd Tribute by Which One’s Pink on January 27. And that’s just the line-up for January in Agoura Hills!
And for fans of smooth crooners, be sure to get tickets to Paul Anka: Seven Decades Tour on January 12 at The Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills 90211 to enjoy listening to the songs and stories from one of the most successful singer/songwriters in music with over 100 million albums sold. Doors open at 6 p.m. with headliner show at 8 p.m. Other upcoming Saban shows include A Night of Soul Music with Peaches & Herb and Blue Magic on January 21; and Engelbert Humperdinck: The Last Waltz World Tour on February 10.
A few of the February shows in Agoura Hills include Led Zeppelin Tribute by Hammer of the Broads, and 80s Modern Rock Tribute by LA Dollz on February 2; Cubensis Tribute to The Grateful Dead with Special Guests on February 3; hometown favorite band Venice and Pine Mountain Logs on February 10; Spazmatics on February 23; Fleetwood Mac Tribute by Mirage on February 24; and An Evening with King Crimson members Robert Fripp & Dave Singleton on February 29.
For reservations call (888) 645-5006 or send an email to BoxOffice@WMMTS.com. Please note, those under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult, and IDs are checked to allow purchasing adult beverages. For more information on 2024 show lineups, venues, and to purchase tickets for all Sterling Venue Ventures shows in Agoura Hills, Beverly Hills, Montclair, and Oxnard, visit the official website at https://WhereMusicMeetsTheSoul.com/
