Performance: The Goldberg-Variations

This is the Amerian premiere of “The Goldberg-Variations” by George Tabori, a major play by a master of experimental theater who confronted the darkest aspects of human history with wit, insight and innovation.

The piece is a backstage comedy set in Jerusalem, where a play based on disasters in the Old and New Testaments is being rehearsed. The director of this play, Mr. Jay, is deliberately named with the initial of Jehovah. His assistant, Goldberg, is a Jew and an Auschwitz survivor. They enact the Creation, the Fall of Man, the near-sacrifice of Isaac, the Golden Calf and the Crucifixion with a satirical combination of seriousness, farce and unashamedly bad jokes.

The play is named after Bach’s famous musical composition, “Goldberg Variations.” Like the music, it explores variations on a theme, delving into the different ways in which individuals cope with trauma and loss.

George Tabori’s plays customarily deal with the Holocaust, Jewish identity, human suffering, and the absurdity of existence. They are deeply reflective and often unsettling, pushing audiences to confront difficult truths about history, humanity, and the self.

Location: Community Space Theater

Tickets:

All Seats $18.00
Students & Seniors $15.00

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