Jewish audiences and Samuel Beckett revered this clown — so did Adolf Hitler
Was Grock a Nazi sympathizer or a calculating opportunist?
Samuel Beckett
The Latest
-
Culture -
Forverts in English ‘Waiting for Godot’ in Yiddish to play at Sweden’s Royal Theatre
Sweden’s national theater, the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, has commissioned the Congress for Jewish Culture to stage Samuel Beckett’s play, “Waiting for Godot” in Yiddish on November 13 and 14. This will be the first Yiddish production in the history of Sweden’s national stage for “spoken drama”, a venerable institution founded in 1788. All…
-
Culture Guinness Record Holder For Longest Theater Career Dies at 90
In 2011, it was announced that the Israeli actress Hanna Maron had set a Guinness world record for the longest career in theater. Born Hanna Meierzak in Berlin in 1923 to a Polish father and mother of Hungarian origin, she began acting at age 4, and appeared in German silent films, as well as performing…
-
Culture The ‘Godot’ We’ve All Been Waiting For
On a recent Friday evening, I was sitting in Manhattan’s Castillo Theatre, on West 42nd Street, waiting to see a production of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot.” As the house lights went down, and the stage lights went up, the play’s minimalist set came into view: a low mound and a bare tree that looked…
-
The Schmooze ‘Waiting for Godot’ Reimagined as Yiddish Kvechathon
“I was told not to worry” Shane Baker, translator from English into Yiddish of Nobelist Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” confided post opening night of the New Jewish Rep and Castillo Theatre’s world premiere of “Vartn Af Godot.” “‘Godot in Yiddish? I barely understand it in English!’” Shane recalled a friend’s reaction. “Don’t worry, it…
-
The Schmooze The Yiddish Spirit of Samuel Beckett
On the 60th anniversary of “Waiting For Godot,” Samuel Beckett’s existential comic-tragedy will be staged in Yiddish for the first time. It’s an idea that is both obvious, and ground-breaking, casting a new light on the masterpiece. The play will run from September 20 to October 13 at the Castillo Theatre in Manhattan (543 W….
-
The Schmooze Q&A: Actor Alan Mandell on Samuel Beckett
Actor Alan Mandell has portrayed Shakespeare’s Shylock, Prospero and Lear, and performed everywhere from Dublin’s Abbey Theatre to Broadway to the silver screen. One of his most notable recent roles was Rabbi Marshak in the Coen brothers’ “A Serious Man.” Mandell is currently playing Estragon in “Waiting for Godot” at LA’s Mark Taper Forum. He…
-
Culture Samuel Beckett’s Letters Reveal Roots of Resistance
Although Nobel Prize-winning author Samuel Beckett is known for his tragicomically inert characters, he himself was an anti-Nazi activist during World War II. Unlike the ever-absent Godot, the bedridden vagrant protagonist of his novel “Molloy” or the despairing characters in his play “Endgame” who lack legs and the ability to stand, Beckett — though painfully…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Culture Henry Kissinger: ‘If it were not for the accident of my birth, I would be antisemitic.’
- 2
Opinion Hamas is not as popular in Gaza as it seems. But Israel’s tactics will ensure their survival
- 3
Opinion Israeli women were raped and widowed by Hamas. Now the world ignores and mocks their suffering
- 4
Opinion The uncomfortable truth behind the hostage deal: War is hell, but it worked
In Case You Missed It
-
Fast Forward Holocaust museum celebrates Rebecca Rubin, the Jewish immigrant and American Girl doll
-
Fast Forward Why a Maine town swapped out a Star of David from its holiday display
-
News Camping, crafts and Zionism: How an Israeli American scouting program has changed since Oct. 7
-
Fast Forward Only remaining teen hostages and Mia Shem, seen in Hamas hostage video, among 8 released on Thursday
Engage
-
Catch Up on Yiddish Events
-
It's trivia time!
Join us for our online fundraiser!
Online
The Supreme Court: Is the Crown Jewel of American Democracy in Peril?
Wed., Dec. 13, 2023 • 7 P.M. ET
ZOOM
NPR Legal Correspondent Nina Totenberg in conversation with Editor-in-Chief Jodi Rudoren. To benefit the Forward.
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
