The Wesker Trilogy: Chicken Soup With Barley / Roots / I'm Talking About Jerusalem

by Arnold Wesker

Chicken Soup with Barley is an epic play that spans twenty years in the life of an East End Jewish family and the gradual crumbling of their socialist dream. It vividly captures the loss of political idealism and links the journey of a single family to the wider political situation.

The kettle boils in 1936 as the fascists are marching. Tea is brewed in 1946, with disillusion in the air at the end of the war. Twenty years on, in 1956, as rumors spread of Hungarian revolution, the cup is empty.

Sarah Khan, an East End Jewish mother, is a feisty political fighter and a staunch communist. Battling against the State and her shirking husband she desperately tries to keep her family together.

This landmark state-of-the-nation play is a panoramic drama portraying the age-old battle between realism and idealism.  Chicken Soup captures the collapse of an ideology alongside the disintegration of a family.

Chicken Soup with Barley, the first in a trilogy that includes Roots and I'm Talking about Jerusalem was first performed at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry in 1958 and transferred to the Royal Court in the same year.

Genres: Plays, Drama

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Sir Arnold Wesker is a British dramatist known for his contributions to world drama. He is the author of 50 plays, 4 volumes of short stories, 2 volumes of essays, a book on journalism, a children's book, extensive journalism, poetry and other assorted writings. His plays have been translated into 17 languages and performed worldwide.

Reviews

[Marwan Asmar]

I learned something about the Jewish working in London; I also learned that some people as in one of the characters will always be 'bums' or layabouts and you cann't doing anything about it, because they are part of the family--its human nature!

[Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a school thing which after 50 years I thought I ought to go back to and see if I can understand why the supply teacher was so enthusiastic for "Roots". I suspect reading this trilogy of plays in winter is not a good idea as I'm having problems with its downbeat themes. But Beaty - who prepares her family for this boyfriend Ronnie, who talks of funny things - realises she too does have her own ideas but they are not his. But at least she learns. In the third play I was very interested that the 'squire-like figure' was doing what such figures have done for time immemorial - appearing friendly and courteous until they don't. Dave, the carpenter, seemed a good character who was willing to have an apprentice, hoping he could teach him the love of handling materials, but underestimating his youth that just saw the factory job as better pay.
All in all interesting characters in a time of massive upheaval (pre-WWII) followed by post WWII. Everything changed; but nothing changed

[Sachin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The play which brings forth the rootlessness of modern man who just regurgitates the opinion of a few elites.
When in the play 'Roots" the protagonist Beaty Briant too duplicates the views of his boyfriend Ronnie(who never appears physically in the play).
but a good end where Beatie finds her own voice and is able to articulate herself with her own ideas and thoughts.
A play in three acts(Roots) and a good reading ; takes less than 4 hours to go through in a single go.

[Lysergius]

Excellent trilogy of linked plays which documents the rise and fall of two Jewish familes from the East end of London against a backdrop of the rise and fall of the socialist ideal. Extremely well written and quite profound.

[Диана · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If you don't care, you die!"

"You cannot change people: you can only give them some love and hope they can take it.."

and much more

..

[Michael Trup · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can imagine my late father's generation telling the same stories of East End Jewish life, full of ironic humour.

[b · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast enjoyable play about movement and place, politics and portrayal with many underlying tones. Very good.

[Michelle]

The mother was my favorite character. She maintained her beliefs through everything.