Martin Sherman: *Rose* at Petőfi Theater Veszprém

History accelerated in the 20th century—and swept everyone along with it, whether they wanted to or not. The residents of a Jewish village, clinging to their old customs with God’s blessing, include Rose (Eleonóra Soltis), a character in the monodrama—who, for example, simply longed for peace free from pogroms. They certainly didn’t want to leave. There wasn’t really anywhere else to go anyway. At most, Warsaw—which held the promise of a better life—could be considered. Rose moved there as well. But then World War II broke out, and—along with countless friends and acquaintances—it took away her little girl and her husband. Is it even possible to survive something like this? Rose managed to. She also had to come to terms with the bitter feeling of being cast out when the ship on which she and her fellow exiles were traveling to Palestine was not allowed to dock. Nowhere.

In Martin Sherman’s monodrama, Rose, a well-to-do, elderly American woman, looks back on her life and the loved ones she has lost. Even in her darkest stories, there is irony and humor. That’s one way to look at things. In fact, often it’s the only way...