Perihelion

by Marilyn Schotland

An astronomer, a medievalist, and a psychic are on the hunt for a comet in Paris on the eve of World War II. When a devastating betrayal splinters their group, the resulting fallout ripples across time in unexpected ways. A meditation on academia, queer kinship, and longing, Perihelion asks us to consider what we owe each other, and what happens when love isn’t enough.

An astronomer, a medievalist, and a psychic are on the hunt for a comet in Paris on the eve of World War II. When a devastating betrayal splinters their group, the resulting fallout ripples across time in unexpected ways. A meditation on academia, queer kinship, and longing, Perihelion asks us to consider what we owe each other, and what happens when love isn’t enough.

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Perihelion

Recommended by

  • Playwrights Foundation: Perihelion by Marilyn Schotland
    “

    The community of National Committee readers for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced Perihelion as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We found the script to be richly textured, poetic, and engaging. Readers leaned in to the smart dialog and nuanced characters. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production.

    The community of National Committee readers for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced Perihelion as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We found the script to be richly textured, poetic, and engaging. Readers leaned in to the smart dialog and nuanced characters. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production.

    ”
  • Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn: Perihelion by Marilyn Schotland
    “

    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.

    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: Perihelion by Marilyn Schotland
    “

    A compelling story about trying to find meaning in a chaotic universe.

    A compelling story about trying to find meaning in a chaotic universe.

    ”

Character Information

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

Development History

  • Reading, University of Southern California, 2022

Awards