In Spite Of Everything

by Zoe Senese-Grossberg

Krakow, February, 1945: Maja, Reina, Henryk, Isaak, and Gittel have just survived the Holocaust and are all each other has left in the entire world but each can’t stop worrying that the others were maybe hanging out without them in Auschwitz. A play about how life always finds a way- but finds a way to do what?

Krakow, February, 1945: Maja, Reina, Henryk, Isaak, and Gittel have just survived the Holocaust and are all each other has left in the entire world but each can’t stop worrying that the others were maybe hanging out without them in Auschwitz. A play about how life always finds a way- but finds a way to do what?

  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Library

In Spite Of Everything

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher: In Spite Of Everything by Zoe Senese-Grossberg
    “

    The playwright makes it very clear from the beginning that this is not a Holocaust play. The Holocaust is certainly a force that looms heavily over the piece but it is not what you would expect at all. The way these characters interact with each other is beautifully crafted. Proof that even people that have survived horrors can be petty and cruel to their friends. These characters are really fucked up and endlessly fascinating. This play might not be everyone's cup of tea but it worked for me and I hope it gets produced.

    The playwright makes it very clear from the beginning that this is not a Holocaust play. The Holocaust is certainly a force that looms heavily over the piece but it is not what you would expect at all. The way these characters interact with each other is beautifully crafted. Proof that even people that have survived horrors can be petty and cruel to their friends. These characters are really fucked up and endlessly fascinating. This play might not be everyone's cup of tea but it worked for me and I hope it gets produced.

    ”
  • Emma Skinner: In Spite Of Everything by Zoe Senese-Grossberg
    “

    Biting, brutal, and darkly funny, "In Spite Of Everything" doesn't miss a beat as it peels open the terrible intricacies of friendships amidst world-shattering events. A keenly incisive and well-written play.

    Biting, brutal, and darkly funny, "In Spite Of Everything" doesn't miss a beat as it peels open the terrible intricacies of friendships amidst world-shattering events. A keenly incisive and well-written play.

    ”

Character Information

  • Maja
    early 20s, Polish communist, had a miscarriage in the camps, attempting to be the queen bee of the situation, hates Isaak most
  • Reina
    early 20s, Polish Jew, Maja's best friend, needs to be part of a duo to survive- as either a sidekick or a hag, hates Gittel most
  • Henryk
    early 20s, Polish gay man, was in love with a guard, your friend who is going through a very attention seeking breakup, probably hates Isaak most but he is the one most removed from the social games
  • Isaak
    early 20s, Polish Jewish gay man, was prostituting himself to the guards, cool and superior, he couldn't care less what these people think, hates Henryk most
  • Gittel
    early 20s, Polish Jew, thinks everyone is hanging out without her, despite playing at moral superiority she is desperate to be included, annoying, hates Maja most

Production History

  • Workshop, The Tank, 2025