Perihelion by Marilyn Schotland

Summer, 1939: three friends are on the hunt for a comet in Paris. Vibrant astronomer Rosa dreams of fame, prickly medievalist Jude longs for an end to academic woes, and mercurial ex-thief Val hopes to be sober enough to see it. When Rosa's eager protégé Sigal enters the fold, the bonds uniting them all begin to fray. As the summer comes to an end, a betrayal splinters the group irreparably just as France...
Summer, 1939: three friends are on the hunt for a comet in Paris. Vibrant astronomer Rosa dreams of fame, prickly medievalist Jude longs for an end to academic woes, and mercurial ex-thief Val hopes to be sober enough to see it. When Rosa's eager protégé Sigal enters the fold, the bonds uniting them all begin to fray. As the summer comes to an end, a betrayal splinters the group irreparably just as France marches headlong into conflict with Germany. Six years later, Rosa has gone missing. The remaining friends tenuously reunite to look for her, but complications arise when Rosa’s impetuous younger brother shows up with Val’s ex-lover in tow. The comet hunters are forced to grapple with the choices they made before, during, and after the war.
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

Perihelion

Recommended by

  • Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn:
    29 Aug. 2021
    “ These characters are all so well defined, smart and vibrant. It seems they are at their own "perihelion" where they are so close to what they want and who they want to be, but the goals are harder to see when they are obscured by the sun.
    Just a fascinating piece of history/science/society all in one play. ”
  • Tony Tambasco:
    27 Aug. 2021
    “ A compelling story about trying to find meaning in a chaotic universe. ”

Character Information

  • Rosa Wolf
    Late 20s,
    Jewish
    ,
    Female
    A vibrant Jewish-American astronomer. Giddy, intelligent, and intensely devoted to her work.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Val Kaufmann
    Mid 30s,
    Jewish
    ,
    Male
    An alcoholic Jewish fortune teller and ex-thief. Charming, mercurial, and barely holding himself together.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • Jude Renard
    Early 30s,
    Irish
    ,
    Female
    A lecturer in medieval art at the Sorbonne. Rosa's lover. Competent, clever, and ambitious to a fault.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Sigal Ginzburg
    Late teens/Early 20s,
    Jewish
    ,
    Female
    A French-Jewish art history student. Jude's protégé. A bit prickly, but opens up after a while.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Isaac Wolf
    Early 20s,
    Jewish
    ,
    Transgender Man
    Rosa’s impetuous younger brother. Flirty and loyal when he wants to be. Talks a mile a minute.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • Misha Olkhovsky
    Early 40s,
    Russian American
    ,
    Male
    A grumpy Russian-American PI. Val’s ex. Mostly regret, partially snark. WWI vet; uses a cane.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    University of Southern California
    ,
    2022

Awards