Scene from the play, courtesy of the Jewish Historical Institute
Directed by Agnieszka Glińska and performed by Zuzanna Fijewska-Malesza, the play tells the life story of Ala, the real-life prototype of one the main characters of Marian Falski’s reading primer written at the beginning of the 20th century. The textbook served generations of Polish children in Poland and around the world in their first steps in reading
Alina Margolis-Edelman’s monodrama "Ala z elementarza" / "Ala from the reading primer” premieres at the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw basedon her childhood memories. Her story starts with an idyllic childhood as part of a wealthy atheist Jewish family in Łódź. She goes to church with her nanny and just like her friends she learns about religion in class. One day during the lesson the nun-teacher tells her, "I am sorry, Alinka, but you can’t stay. I didn’t know you were a little Jew". A similar episode takes place when wants to join a brownies troupe. Later, during the war, she works as a nurse in Warsaw Ghetto children’s hospital. After leaving the burning ghetto she moves in with an anti-Semitic family who helps her survive until the end of the war, convinced she is a Pole.
The story is presented from the perspective of a child. The actress playing Ala, Zuzanna Fijewska-Malesza, relates
Ala’s memories are not a description of historical facts. Both the text and the performance are unique because it is the story of a little girl, then an adolescent, telling her story of the times she lived in. She does not talk about dramatic events, she neither grieves, nor is terrified by what she’s seeing. She writes about it all like a child. It is a confession of a young person, an account of joys and problems which everyone experiences. Alina Margolis-Edelman’s memories are so fresh and so clear. She isn’t judgmental, there’s no martyrdom.(…)This text praises life.
Director Agnieszka Glińska first encountered the text several years ago and says it has been a part of her ever since. She wrote the screenplay at the Andrzej Wajda Film School and did a reading of the material at Warsaw’s Jewish Theatre. "I am certain, however, that the form of monodrama will express its content in the best way possible", says Glińska.
Agnieszka Zawodowska’s stage design is simple - the only prop is a writing desk. The team behind the play want the audience to concentrate on the text and the story, the most important part of this performance.
Alina Margolis-Edelman (1922-2008) was a Polish doctor and a social activist of Jewish descent. She participated in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. She was a wife of the political activist, one of the leaders of the Ghetto Uprising, Marek Edelman. Marian Falski, the author of the famous reading primer was a friend of Alina Margolis’ mother. On her seventh birthday he gave the reading primer to her as a birthday present.
The title character of the performance says of Mr. Falski,
Mr Marian Falski was a great friend of my mum’s. He was a tall, handsome man. His hair was grey and slightly wavy and he had a friendly smile. When I turned seven he brought me a beautifully wrapped present. It was a reading primer. On the first page, in the upper left corner there was an inscription: For Ala from the reading primer – the author, and a little bit lower – Ala has got a cat.
Performances take place at the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw on the 16th of December, 2011 at 21:30 (final dress rehearsal) and the 18th of December, 2011 at 19:30 (premiere).
The performance has been produced by the Teatr na woli with the support of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Young Poland received by Zuzanna Fijewska-Malesza. The text was also the basis of a 2010 documentary film directed by Edyta Wróblewska.
"Ala z elementarza"
Text:Alina Margolis-Edelman
Direction:Agnieszka Glińska
Stage design:Agnieszka Zawodowska
The cast:Zuzanna Fijewska-Malesza
Premiere:December 17th, 2011, 7:30 PM
Press premiere:December 18th, 2011, 7:30 PM
Jewish Historical Institute
ul. Tłomackie 3/5, Warsaw
Source: www.gazeta.pl, www.e-teatr, www.culture.pl, www.warszawa.naszemiasto.pl, http://www.jewishinstitute.org.pl