ance in more contemporary
depictions of Jews.
But are today's Jewish
playwrights up to the
challenge of offering such a
balanced picture? Are they
up to the challenge of offer-
ing a true picture of Jewish
life?
"We're finding a res-
urgence in the serious play,"
said Bassuk of Novel Stages.
"That is true among Jewish
writers from Hebrew school
on."
What is also true is that
this resurgence is a recent
phenomenon. Part of the
blame in the past, says
Bassuk, must lie with
undemanding audiences,
those theatergoers who
crave and demand
"entertainment" rather
than enlightenment.
"In a world that has a
government in which every-
thing is flexible and no one
is accountable, we want
theater to say, 'Let's talk
about accountability.' "
However, must audiences
be held accountable for in-
fluencing what a playwright
dares do? Is the Jewish
playwright obligated to
"drag" the audience with
him into issues?
The Jewish audience has
got to be willing to allow the
image of a Jewish person on
stage not to be (personally)
embarrassing to him," says
Bassuk, thus allowing the
writer to stretch his concept
of character.
But sometimes, it seems,
playwrights fear that au-
diences will be too em-
barrassed to face up to facts,
that the images presented
must be safe rather than raw
and arousing.
Indeed, said director Nash,
playwrights do seem unwill-
ing to tackle Jewish topics of
an incendiary nature. He
recalls staging The Work
Room for People's Light
some seasons back. That
play was a French work
whose uncompromising look
at the Holocaust, says Nash,
proved discomforting for
American audiences in its
willingness to point fingers
at collaborators.
"I don't know many
American plays by Jewish
authors or others as hard,"
said Nash.
It is hard, said Karin, to
get behind an issue if the
writer is unfamiliar with it.
"To be a Jewish writer and
to bring to an audience what
it means to be a Jew," said
the actress, "it means that

this writer must go through
a process of learning, of
knowing his history and of
where he comes from."
"Audiences must not be
blamed for a playwright's
unwillingness to break
molds fashioned from
preconceived notions of what
is acceptable, said Potok.
"What the post-Yiddish
theater audience requests is
an honest handling of a sub-
ject. It is not simply honest if
a subject is presented in
gross fashion.
"Why should we who I
think (as a people) are more
sophisticated (in theatergo-
ing) be expected to accept
non-knowledgeable
playwrights?" Potok asked.
Yet, added Nash, if Jewish
audiences are unwilling to
accept writers who rip
masks off their characters in
a search for truths, they are
not alone.
"If there is a tendency on a
Jewish audience's part to be
wary of the harsh and the
difficult in the making of
images, it is not correct to
suggest any other audience
has been any more coura-
geous in accepting the
warts" of their people, he
said.
"Human beings, being
what they are, find it
difficult to accept harsh-
ness no matter what, and
great works of art do trans-
cend that difficulty." It's not
so difficult to face facts if
you're prepared for truths,
said Karin.
"The more secure you are
in your Jewishness, the less
offended you are" by what
can be perceived as negative
theatrical portrayals of
Jews, she said.
When a Jewish playwright
writes what he believes to be
a non-Jewish play, is it still
a Jewish play by nature of
his heritage? After all, the
baggage of the past cannot
be dumped at the door as the
writer sits down at the
typewriter — or can it?
"One is part of a culture
and part of a people and a
history," said Bassuk of
Jewish playwrights.
However, he stressed, each
work should be judged on its
own merits.
Potok seemed perplexed by
the question.
"That's the old question I
used to be asked: 'What is a
Jewish novel?' And the an-
swer is," said Potok with a
gleam in his eye, "only Jews
ask that question."

Since it's opening. knowing
Detroiters and seasoned travelers
have been drawn to
The Townsend.
Its intimacy and warmth are
the nearest thing to a
private club.
Our afternoon tea has become an
overnight tradition.

For Reservations and Information:

(313) 642-7900

100 Townsend Street At Pierce. Birmingham

Our Hearty Wishes To
Everyone For A
Healthy and Happy New Year

KABOB GRILL
557-5990

29702 SOUTHFIELD RD. AT 12 1/2 MILE (In Southfield Plaza)
34637 Grand River, Farmington

442-9490

THANK
YOU!!

Sincere Wishes
From The Group
For A Very
Healthy & Happy
New Year

(313) 544-7373

❑

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

149