WOODEN WARS
A Contemporary Yiddish Play by Jana Mazurkiewicz
Sarah Garibova as Ania
(Later known as Frime) - very shy and serious, silent, pretty.Ania doesn't like interacting with the other kids and prays when no one is watching her. She constantly fiddles with her hands and is paranoid of being watched. Ania is intimidated by her sister, Zosia. Frime speaks the Polish dialect of Yiddish. She can be distinguished by her red skirt, white blouse, and rosary in Act I, and by a white blouse, grey skirt, and sheytl (head scarf)
in Act II.
Sara Feldman as Jakub
A nerdy, brainy, courageous outsider. He stares at maps all the time and travels in his dreams. Jakub is lumbered with a chronic cold. He speaks broken Yiddish and uses Hebrew words here and there. He wears a big black hat, white shirt, black vest, and red pants.
Jamie Parsons as Zosia
(Later called Rus) - funny, brave, silly, talkative, homely.Zosia enjoys making fun of her sister Ania and challenging people. Zosia gets bored very easily. Zosia/Rus speaks YIVO Yiddish with a very strong American accent. She can be identified by her red harem pants, white and red shirt, and red hat in Act I, and all black outfit in Act II.
James Nadel as Tadek
Energetic, self-confident, vulgar, stubborn, and a bully. He is arrogant and a “my way or the highway” kind of person; you’d better watch out for him. . He dons brown hat, brown pants, and a red, plaid sweatshirt, and often, a bottle of vodka.
Sara Feldman as Jake
Rus’ partner. Jake is very kind, tries to be on good terms with everybody, and a tango expert. Jake is a weed smoker and speaks bine Yiddish (stage Yiddish) with a very strong American accent. Her Yiddish is brilliant. She wears a black dress and boots.
Alexandra Hoffman as Yitskhok
Frime’s husband, a Chabadnik. He is religious, smart and practical, not very devoted to his wife. Yitskhok has a very strong Hassidic American accent when he speaks Yiddish.Yitskhok fashions a black head covering, a black suit, and a prayer shawl.
Caren Feldman as Wooden Jew
The wooden Jew is enthusiastic and loves to dance. It does not want to be found and captured by the Salesman. The Wooden Jew’s appearance is companied by a Hassidic tune. The Wooden Jew can be recognized by its long beard, black hat, large coat, and ginormous boots.
Sanders as Salesman
He has a Santa Claus-like figure– energetic and a little pushy… He loves his job. The Salesman is the guy with the burlap sack marketing
Wooden Jews.