A Rosen by Any Other Name: Based Upon the Book A Good Place to Come from

by Israel Horovitz, Morley Torgov (Based On Work by)

Preparing for his bar mitzvah, Stanley Rosen is disconcerted by his proud mother's promise to commission a chopped liver sculpture in his likeness, but even more concerned about his father's decision to change the family name from Rosen to Royal. World War II has begun and the older Rosen, disturbed by a growing evidence of anti-Semitism, even in their provincial town of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, wants to disguise the family's Jewish background. Although Stanley is very much a part of the local community, and even has a gentile girlfriend, Fern, he is uneasy with his father's action which, he feels, is a betrayal of a proud heritage. With Fern's help, and that of a sympathetic cousin, Manny, a shell-shocked veteran, he arranges a secret bar mitzvah in the proper family name. His father, angered and resentful at first, soon realizes that his son has shown a courage he has lacked and as the play ends the family is once again united, and determined to face what may come with dignity and resolve.

Genres: Plays

73 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Israel Horovitz has written more than 80 plays, several of which have been translated into as many as 30 languages and performed worldwide. His play Line reached 50 years of continuous performance, off-Broadway, at 13th Street Repertory Theatre.

Horovitz is Founding Artistic Director of Gloucester Stage Company, and of the New York Playwrights Lab. For two decades, he taught a bilingual screenwriting workshop with writers from la Fémis, France’s national film school, and Columbia University’s graduate film program. Has also written or adapted numerous plays for BBC Radio. (Click on link for listing and description of plays.)

He is married to Gillian Adams-Horovitz, former British National Marathon Champion and Record holder, and former USA Track & Field (Masters) Marathon Champion. The Horovitz family divides its time among homes in Gloucester, Massachusetts, NYC’s Greenwich Village, and London’s Dulwich Village. Mr. Horovitz visits France, frequently, where he often directs French-language productions of his plays. He is the most-produced American playwright in French theatre history.

Reviews

[Delaney Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this play is centered around the fear and determination of being Jewish during WWII, it is easy for anyone to relate to the central theme of self-identy that becomes the major focus of the play. A definate recommend to anyone who is questioning who they are and/or who they want to be.