The Accomplices
Who would have thought that no one cared, and if they did, will it have mattered?
The Accomplices, written by political reporter Bernard Weinraub, is a true story about Hillel Kook, also known as Peter Bergson. In the play, Weinraub brings out the facts of the anti-semitism that pervaded the Roosevelt Administration during World War II. This West Coast premiere is playing at The Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles.
In 1940 Polish-born Hillel Kook leaves Palestine where he had worked in the underground resistance. He arrives in the United States hoping to build a Jewish Army to fight Hitler, but his mission changes when he learns of the Holocaust, the annihilating of Jews throughout Europe. He also changes his name to Peter Bergson and begins his quest to save the European Jews. He forms a partnership with Rumanian-born Samuel Merlin with the help of Betty, a dancer they meet in their building. (Eventually Peter and Betty marry.) In all of his efforts, Bergson is turned away by everyone, not only in the Roosevelt Administration, but by top Jewish leaders as well who do not want to lose their political prestige.
When Bergson calls upon Rabbi Stephen Wise, who has a close relationship with Roosevelt, to intervene on behalf of the European Jews, Wise refuses. When he calls upon Breckenridge Long, the man Roosevelt has put in charge of the State Department’s immigration office, he is turned away. In order to keep Jews from entering the United States, Long has, purposefully, been holding back documents that he had received describing what was happening to the Jews in Europe. It appears that everyone in the administration, including the Roosevelt family, has a vendetta against the Jews. Franklin Roosevelt’s own cousin, Laura Houghteling, even gives speeches denigrating them and speaks against allowing them into the country. The only one who couldn’t be accused of anti-semitism is Eleanor Roosevelt.
Bergson finally gets help from award-winning screenwriter, Ben Hecht, who helps him form a rally on Washington, D.C. He then turns to Henry Morganthau and tells him what has been going on in the State Department. Morganthau acquiesces to Bergson’s request for help upon learning of the corruption in the government. He and Bergson visit Roosevelt whereby he tells Roosevelt that he is resigning his position and briefs him on what has been going on in the State Department. Roosevelt telld Morganthau to remain in his job, then begins making changes in the State Department and, finally, the rules are changed to allow the Jewish people to immigrate to the United States. Unfortunately, all of this comes about too late, it is near the end of the war, and six million men, women and children have been lost in the Holocaust.
Steven Schub plays Peter Bergson with the zeal of a man fighting for what he believes is right; Kirsten Kollendar is lovely and loving as Betty; Brian Carpenter plays Breckinridge Long as a true villain and as a detestable human being. James Harper is perfect as Franklin D. Roosevelt, ideally creating his speech and manner; Cheryl Dooley displays the haughtiness of Laura Houghteling; and Donne McRae, as Long’s long-time secretary shows just the right amount of disgust when she resigns upon realizing just what kind of a man he is. The other superlative members of the cast include Dennis Gersten (Ben Hecht and Henry Morganthau), Gregory G. Giles (Samuel Rosenman), Morlan Higgins (Rabbi Stephen Wise), William Dennis Hurley (Samuel Merllin) and Stephen Marshall (Officer Brian and John Pehle), all under the capable direction of Deborah LaVine.
The Accomplices is a gripping and emotional story. It is a lesson in history that everyone should know and never forget. It continues through August 24, 2008. Highly recommended.
The Fountain Theatre
5060 Fountain Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 9029