Oh, hello there, Blogfriend. I didn't notice you. Probably because I'm in some exhaustion-induced fog from the last couple days, as the Angels cast and crew gear up for opening night, which is now only FOUR DAYS away. We are all so incredibly excited to show you all of our hard work, and put on the most incredible show you've ever seen. [While I have you for a moment, don't forget to buy tickets, join our Facebook group, and watch this.]
Now, welcome to another edition of AC Bloggin', with your host, the AC Bloggin' Blog. Today's cast member blog comes to you from the hilarious, lovely, and talented Sarah Brodine. Keep on keeping on to learn everything you ever needed to know about Ethel Rosenberg, Hitchcock films starring Will Smith, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But not the dumb, TMNT CGI kind. The kind in big rubber suits, duh.
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The Opening:
I am a Mormon sister. I am a ghost.
What does this mean, dear reader? Am I a religiously motivated individual with some existential-themed depression? Hardly. Am I one of those odd jobbies that loves posing Matrix-style questions to confuse the general public? You bet! Fortunately, I’m all for spoiler alerts!
Spoiler Alert!: Sister Ella Chapter (the Mormon) and Ethel Rosenberg (Ghost – like of the Jacob Marley/Christmas Carol variety) are two characters in our production of Angels in America. Woah.
The Middle Bits:
What’s it like playing a character that was a real live historical figure? You’re right, its not easy--and yes, “Ella Chapter,” would be a great name for a rock band. In all seriousness though, it took some in-depth preparation to comfortably play the character of Ethel Rosenberg.
Information Insert: I’ll bet the majority of the under 20/generation double-A-battery-types don’t have any idea who Ethel Rosenberg is. Mostly because she belongs to a time period called “the 50s” (think poodle skirts, malt shops, and “greasers” as seen in the movie…“Grease”), and anything before the 80’s (i.e. Madonna and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), is seen as a vague sort of history lesson that is not applicable to the 21st Century lifestyle. For example, I asked my 15 year old brother if he liked Alfred Hitchcock movies. His response: Yea, Will Smith WAS good in that “Hitch” movie. It is a sad sign of the times.
What I Learned (Some Fun Facts That Aren’t So…Fun):
- Ethel Greenglass Rosenberg and her husband Julius were American communists who were executed in 1953 for conspiracy to commit espionage.
- Both Ethel and Julius, born to Jewish families, lived in New York City and were part of the Young Communist League where they met.
- Julius was recruited by the KGB to spy against the US in 1942 (this is during WWII for all you folks playing the home game).
- Julius learned that David Greenglass (Ethel’s brother) was working on the top-secret Manhattan Project - the codename for a project led by the US and conducted during World War II to develop the first atomic bomb. That’s some serious business.
- Julius Rosenberg and David Greenglass then worked together, offering secrets of the US scientific variety to the Russians.
- When Russian physicists were able to develop their own nuclear weapons by 1949, the West (meaning the US) was shocked at how quickly they were matching the US development of weapons.
- The US began investigations into tracking their own discoveries, to see if and what information was passed along. As Elmer Fudd so eloquently put it: “There’s something very screwy going on here…”.
- To make a long story short, the information exchange was pinpointed to, amongst other people, David Greenglass and Julius Rosenberg.
- David Greenglass testified against his own brother-in-law and sister, stating Ethel would type up documents for the two men and was fully aware of the implications of such documents.
- Despite not being able to produce any documents or produce any concrete evidence that Ethel really was involved in such espionage, the prosecution based their conviction solely on her brother’s testimony.
- There was strong evidence against Julius, but Ethel was wrongly convicted.
- Both were charged with treason and convicted to suffer Capital Punishment.
- On June 19th, 1953, Julius, aged 35, and Ethel, aged 37, were electrocuted in Sing Sing Prison. They left behind 2 children and an outraged nation that felt these people were unjustly made an example of by the McCartney-driven Republican prosecution.
Puzzle Pieces Put Together:
How does Ethel Rosenberg fit into this Angels show, you might ask? Prepare to be dazzled! One of the members of the Angels ensemble--of the lead character variety--is Roy Cohn. Amongst other things, he is a real-life historical figure (just like our girl Ethel) that just so happened to be on the prosecuting team against Ethel Rosenberg. He very illegally and very unethically spoke with the judge of the trail on a daily basis to help convict both the Rosenbergs.
During the play we see Roy in the not-so-peaceful twilight of his life as he is deteriorating from the AIDS virus. Whether he is delusional or just plain haunted, Ethel visits him in his last days – a none-too-friendly apparition.
The End/Finis:
It has been quite a challenge to channel a character with seemingly endless reserves of inner strength and a quiet assuredness, peppered by a Jewish/New York accent. Is she vindictive? Is she someone of substance? Or is she barely-there; a memory, seeped with age and larger-than-life color. These are decisions that only direction and practice can determine.
I imagine her appearing with a sort of glow. Like after a rain fall, all the earth is coated with moisture and when the light reflects off of it, the color and vibrancy is magnified, making you notice and breathe a little deeper and think a little longer than you’re used to. I want to instill that kind of reaction when I appear.
The Closer:
Come see the show!
