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BETTER DON’T TALK! (FINDING MY MOTHER’S VOICE)
The Remarkable True Life Story of Chayela Rosenthal, “Star of the Vilna Ghetto Theatre”
Written & Performed by
NAAVA PIATKA
Directed by Joann Green Breuer
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A Joyous Celebration of Life, Theatre and Family!
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Naava offers a dynamic 45 minute performance of BETTER DON’T TALK! designed for schools, (middle and high schools) colleges and organizations interested in offering innovative, impactful Holocaust or Theatre presentations.
From New York to Florida, Colorado to New Jersey, Georgia to Massachusetts, BETTER DON’T TALK has engaged and educated students of all ages.
Click here to read some responses from Teachers and Students. |
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Internationally acclaimed actress/playwright Naava Piatka takes audiences on a fascinating journey to discover the rich legacy of her Yiddish actress and comedienne mother, Chayela Rosenthal's remarkable past as Star of the Vilna Ghetto Theatre. In this moving and joyfilled tribute to a once vibrant culture, Naava seamlessly portrays both her vivacious comedienne mother who kept secret about her history and herself, a second generation woman determined to break the silence and superstitions of the past, delivering a theatrical experience critics and audiences alike describe as “unforgettable” “stunning”, “powerful” and “excellent.”
Critic Louise Rimmer from the Scotsman gave it four stars at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and wrote: “A POWERFUL ENTHRALLING PIECE OF THEATRE” “not only a beautifully crafted lament, but a powerful celebration of the human spirit and its ability to create art in the most dire of circumstances.”
Carol King of the Daily Gazette, Troy, NY wrote: “Naava Piatka’s one-woman show is not to be missed– brilliant performance!”
The play’s title, BETTER DON’T TALK!, taken from a translation from Leyb’s popular song Yisroylik, is deliberately ironic; it’s precisely because Chayela didn’t talk about her past that Naava felt compelled to resurrect the stories about that significant time and place. In an attempt to fill the void of voices silenced before their time, Naava presents this uniquely uplifting Holocaust related story spanning three continents and three generations as celebration of her family’s cultural heritage of creativity and song in the face of tragedy.
Through the transformative power of theatre, BETTER DON’T TALK reveals the complexities of family relationships, the intimate connection of past to present and generation to generation, as it steps back to a universally historic time with unexpected joy, laughter and song.
With stirring narrative, distinctive humor and haunting, original authentic songs, some written in the Ghetto by her lyricist uncle, Leyb Rosenthal and still sung today in Europe, Naava creates a most memorable piece of theatre.
Often using the expression, “Blown away!” audience members from schools to theatres and charity events, rave about BETTER DON’T TALK!
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See more great photos and commentary from New York State Theatre Institute production set designer, Richard Finkelstein: |
