THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER

by Deborah Zoe Laufer

Sarah is struggling to survive her senior year of high school - new town, new school, new boyfriend. She's also struggling to survive the new America, where the insurrection was successful and everything has changed. When an ancient Yiddish-speaking woman is deposited on their doorstep, Sarah and her father must decide whether to help the woman hide or to save themselves.

Sarah is struggling to survive her senior year of high school - new town, new school, new boyfriend. She's also struggling to survive the new America, where the insurrection was successful and everything has changed. When an ancient Yiddish-speaking woman is deposited on their doorstep, Sarah and her father must decide whether to help the woman hide or to save themselves.

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THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER

Recommended by

  • Abigail Henkin: THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER

    What I love about this play is that, although set in a world of authoritarian conformity that feels terrifyingly plausible, individual characters are treated with such humanity and compassion. It’s a play that evokes a desire to connect with history and culture - as someone with Jewish descent, it’s the reason I started Yiddish on Duolingo. But it also feels intersectional in its argument for understanding the importance of our history and defending it from homogenizing powers.

    What I love about this play is that, although set in a world of authoritarian conformity that feels terrifyingly plausible, individual characters are treated with such humanity and compassion. It’s a play that evokes a desire to connect with history and culture - as someone with Jewish descent, it’s the reason I started Yiddish on Duolingo. But it also feels intersectional in its argument for understanding the importance of our history and defending it from homogenizing powers.

  • Maggie Cain: THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER

    A well-written piece about what really could happen! The tension is there from the beginning, and it brings up topics to struggle with: how much do we need to fit in? how much can we fight oppression and discrimination? are we complicit if we go along to get along? Though it centers on Judaism and the right for Jews to exist, it has universal appeal to anyone who worries about marginalized groups, and the often-unwitting or uneducated, both well-meaning and vengeful who group together to persecute them.

    A well-written piece about what really could happen! The tension is there from the beginning, and it brings up topics to struggle with: how much do we need to fit in? how much can we fight oppression and discrimination? are we complicit if we go along to get along? Though it centers on Judaism and the right for Jews to exist, it has universal appeal to anyone who worries about marginalized groups, and the often-unwitting or uneducated, both well-meaning and vengeful who group together to persecute them.

  • Red Theater: THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER

    A tense, all-too-possible near future play that strikes at the heart of what makes survival "worth it." Laufer's characters feel familiar, which only elevates the audience's investment in their choices. Check out its rolling premiere if you can!

    A tense, all-too-possible near future play that strikes at the heart of what makes survival "worth it." Laufer's characters feel familiar, which only elevates the audience's investment in their choices. Check out its rolling premiere if you can!

View all 7 recommendations

Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization Theatre Lab, Year 2023
  • Type Commission, Organization Lucille Lortel, Alcove commission, Year 2023

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization InterAct, Year 2024

Awards

  • Lortel Alcove Micro-Commission
    Lucille Lortel Foundation
    2023