What I liked
This play tells the story of angelic guidance received by a small group of Hungarians during the horrors of World War II. The narrator and main character, Gita Mallasz, was recognized in 2011 by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations for having rescued over 100 Jewish women and children from almost certain death. Her portrayal by Shelley Mitchell was spellbinding and in itself an act of courage. As a consummate actor, whether Shelley played one of the four who received these instructions or one of the angels who gave them, her voice rang true. Because of the subject matter, even the audience at this show was fascinating. One 82 year old Jewish refugee from Paris, who had written her own book on angels, drove up from San Diego to see the show and present Shelley with her book and some handmade jewelry. It was heartening in these unquiet times to be reminded that every one of us can take a stand for good.
What I didn't like
I loved this show and everything about it, but I would have liked a short intermission.
My overall impression
It is heartening in these unquiet times to be reminded that every one of us can take a stand for good. The main character of this play, Gita Mallasz, was honored in 2011 as one of the Righteous Among the Nations for her Schindler-like rescue of over 100 Jewish women and children. She also participated in a small group who claimed to have received angelic instruction during the war, and this play tells their story. There’s a saying that we have an army of angels at our command if we but ask, and the message of this play is that for this group of four, that saying bore fruit. If it happened once, who’s to say it can’t happen again? Whether or not you believe in angels, this is a compelling insight into Holocaust history not to be missed.
