Papers

PAPERS is a fable of sibling rivalry and Jewish assimilation set against the backdrop of the Russian revolution, the Holodomor, and the Holocaust, from 1917 to 1950. Rikail Varshavskij is a Romanov imposter, her sister Ritta a Yiddish actress trying to pass as a shiksa. As their fates cross, reflect, and repel each other, we see how the petty grievances of childhood transform into unforgivable betrayals.
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

Papers

Recommended by

  • Heather Helinsky:
    27 Feb. 2024
    PAPERS skillfully weaves together in fresh new ways narratives that could each be their own play: story of two sisters whose relationship falls apart, the Russian revolution and its aftermath in Ukraine, a lesbian love story, the Holocaust, and a Jewish assimilation narrative. This play doesn't give easy answers and flips the script as we're on this journey with two competitive, squabbling sisters. The play asks how does one navigate a hostile, anti-semitic world without losing one's own identity? Strong theatrical voice, ready for next steps.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Hunter College
    ,
    2019

Awards

Semi-Finalist
,
Jerome Fellowship
,
The Playwrights Center
,
2023
Semi-Finalist
,
NAPSeries
,
Normal Ave
,
2023
Semi-Finalist
,
The Jewish Plays Project
,
2023