Untitled #194418 /
Elinor Milchan
/ Sharon Burstein Bichachi
Drama
Psychological Drama
Periodical Drama
Documentary
Historical Play
Subject: Text in: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Untitled (194418) is the potential of a life that could have been and the implications it could have had. Untitled (194418) are the fantasies of Nelly—a girl, barely 18, who created and sculpted with bread and elements she could find during WWII in the camps and beyond, and pioneered a new art movement called “Nellism”. Nelly symbolizes multiple life stories that could have influenced and changed reality. The play was written following an in-depth investigation of several female artists who created art during World War II. Some of them continued their art after the war, while some did not survive, but what they all had in common was that art gave them and those around them strength, meaning, and hope. In a chaotic, unpredictable world full of evil (just like we all find ourselves today), our creations and thoughts have a great influence on our ability to survive. We chose to deal with the memory of the Holocaust and heroism through a play full of life, humor, and the perspective of “what if.” The play opens, when Nelly, a 96 years old feminist artist full of life and humor, is called to the stage to receive her Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts. Nelly is sitting in the audience with the spectators and is led by an usher. We are, as the audience, suddenly thrown into the midst of her life, in a non-chronological way, following pieces of her passions, loves, disappointments and artistic creations. The transitions between times are marked by walls and elements that move, symbolizing on the one hand, the ghetto walls, and on the other hand, her unique artistic creations. The elements gradually fill the stage, and we slowly discover her final artwork (see pictures are attached at the bottom of the play). The play ends with the 18-year-old Nelly being led to the stage by a woman—the same actress who played the usher at the beginning. At this point, we suddenly realize, that Nelly is, actually, being led to her death by a Nazi, and that all her life which we just saw did not happen. The play are her final thoughts as she walks to her own death.
In a scene just before the end, when Nelly and her lover Peter reunite, she chooses to move to a kibbutz in the Gaza Strip area. Unlike the characters, we as the audience already know the future and that “history repeats itself.” Inspired by true events and characters that she could have encountered throughout her life, the scenes are constantly invaded by the reality that she is trying to escape. Throughout the performance, and unrelated to the actual scene, multiple “interventions” of sounds, decor and lighting effects break into moments of Nelly’s “life” as if “calling” her back to reality. The play demonstrates the power of creation in preserving identity, motivating, instilling hope, surviving, and continuing to be and live. The physical boundaries of the ghetto and subhuman conditions provide meaning, inspiration, groundbreaking creativity, and boundless expression. The play ends with six empty seats lit in the middle of the crowd, including the one where the elder Nelly was seated. The play will premiere on May 8, 2025 at the Dortmundt Theather. The project has received the support of the Goethe Institue, the office of North Rhine Westphalia as well as Rabinovitch foundation (in Israel)
NOTES Untitled (194418) is the potential of a life that could have been. Nelly’s dream, which she constructs in her mind as she walks to her death, is inspired by true stories and characters that she might have encountered throughout her life. Her dream keeps being invaded by the reality that she is trying to escape. Hence, throughout the performance, and unrelated to the actual scene, multiple “interventions” of sounds, decor and lighting effects break into moments of Nelly’s “life” as if “calling” her back to reality.
Sound – burst of diverse sounds such dog barking, steps, digging, knocking…ect… intervene surprisingly and unrelated to the actual scene. The sounds, from her present life in Terezin, invade Nelly’s dream.
Lighting – flashbacks of life in the camp are marked by a change in lighting design.
Set – Nelly’s artwork emerges on stage as she assembles together pieces of bread, wood, stone, walls, and more… Her artwork and life take form before our eyes. * Nelly writes letters to her beloved Peter, using charcoal on the walls. This also enables her to record time and leave an additional mark of her existence. * Nelly’s transformation during the different periods of her life, is openly exposed to the audience’s eyes. *Casting – some of the characters are played by the same actors purposely. All the characters Nelly meets in her dream are people she met in the ghetto and camps, and who stand as witnesses to her death at the end of the play. The woman with cloth – She is Nelly in the present life in Terezin. She is her alter ego and holds a piece of cloth that connects to the remains of identity she still has. Only Nelly is aware of her presence. As she walks to her death, Nelly holds the piece in her hand, linking the two characters to one another.
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The characters |
Female:4 Male:3 Total:7
Nelly – An artist at different moments of her life, from age 16 till her mid 60’s.
Elder Nelly – An artist in her mid 90’s.
Peter – Nelly’s childhood friend and greatest love. Ages 25, 35 and 65 years old.
The Usher / Helga / Nazzi officer The Usher – A woman in her 40’s. Helga – Curator and Nelly’s friend. In her late 20’s and 40’s. Nazzi officer – A woman in her 40’s.
Alejandro / Edward Alejandro – Musician and friend of Nelly. In his 20’s and 30’s. Edward – Scientist and researcher. Nelly’s partner. Mid 40’s and early 50’s.
Garry / Interviewer / Nazi officer Garry – Owner of Nelly’s studio. In his 50’s. Interviewer – Interviews Nelly in the middle of her life. In his 50’s. Nazi officer – A man in his 50’s.
Woman with cloth: Silent character that only Nelly can see. She is 18 years old.
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Productions |
Not performed yet |