Certificate of Life (excerpt)

Synopsis

For twelve years, from 1933 – 1945, the vile machinery of the Third Reich was orchestrated in such a way as to bring about the annihilation of Clara Reich.

But the Third Reich collapsed, the war ended, and Clara was still alive.

From that day forth – every year, just before her birthday – she has been compelled to attend the German Consul and, in a supreme irony, present them with a Lebensbescheinegung:  A Certificate Of Life.

In this way, the German government satisfies itself that the recipients of its reparation pensions are indeed still alive.

Clara, of course, has never forgotten what happened to her:  The perfunctory killing of her husband, the vicious slaughter of her two-year-old daughter, the torture and destruction of every other member of her entire extended family.  Never forgotten and never forgiven.

Separated from a brutish second husband whom she never loved, she lives with her only daughter, Hilda.

Together, the two of them exist – year in, year out – in the shadow of the Holocaust.

And together, each year, they attend the German Consul, in order to prove that Clara is still alive.

But is she?

Certificate Of Life is a dark, blackly comic, ferocious, compelling and, ultimately, deeply moving exploration of what it is to be human and to be alive.

Character Breakdown:

CLARA REICH  76 – 85
HILDA   CLARA’S daughter, 36 – 45
HEIDI ROMMEL   German consular official, 40s

The play is set over nine-and-a-half years, from 1996 – 2005.

Running-time:  80 minutes.

Production History:
World Premiere:  Cameri Theatre, Tel Aviv.  2017 – 2019

Publication:   Australian Playscripts.  2017.

Translation:   Hebrew.  2017.

Reviews:

‘.. an overwhelming mixture of humour and pain..  a true pearl..’
Yedioth Ahronoth 16/06/2017

‘..  compelling..  manages to create an intense reality.. powerful and exciting..’
Ma’ariv 13/06/2017

“..  sharp humour and an even sharper truth..’
Habama 4/06/2017

“.. an intimate and delicate drama whose driving force is simmering emotion..  impressive, touching and compelling..”
City Mouse 30/05/2017

“..  thrilling..”
The Marker 30/05/2017

“.. the weightiest matters handled with great lightness of touch result in a true crowd-pleaser..”
Ha’aretz 6/06/2017

“..  sad, funny and touching..”
Megaphone 3/06/2017

“.. touching and witty..”
Motke website  5/06/2017

“.. a sensitive study.. a witty play.. an almost perfect comedy..”
Jerusalem Post 10/06/2017

Excerpt available for download for free.