Zoom. The Theater Project presents thought-provoking play, ‘The Interpreter’

The Theater Project, a showcase for New Jersey artists, will present a live streaming production of award-winning playwright Joseph Vitale’s “The Interpreter” in November.

The play was inspired by the real-life experiences of Richard Sonnenfeldt, the chief interpreter at the Nuremberg trials, but it is a work of theatrical fiction. It depicts the complex relationship between a young, Jewish U.S. Army interpreter and Hermann Goering, the leading Nazi on trial for war crimes.

‘To remind us that the virus of hatred lies at the core of humanity itself’

Vitale, recipient of a 2021 fellowship in playwrighting from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, said that although the play is about the Nuremberg trials, it also turns a mirror on ourselves.

“At the same time that Allies were trying Nazis for crimes against humanity, prejudice and intolerance were rampant on our side,” Vitale said. “What The Interpreter does, I hope, is to remind us that the virus of hatred lies at the core of humanity itself. By recognizing that fact, and giving voice to it, perhaps we can assure that unspeakable acts won’t someday be perpetrated in our name as well.”

“The Interpreter is one of the most thought-provoking pieces we have ever produced,” said The Theater Project’s founding artistic director Mark Spina. “This play is something that reaches beyond our traditional New Jersey audience. It is national in scope, and we expect an online audience throughout the United States, particularly among schools and Jewish organizations.”

The production employs the designers from Transcend Streaming to integrate strong visuals and sound elements with the virtual performance. An open dialogue with the playwright, actors and director follows selected broadcasts.

Essentials

The play runs Nov. 4-7, and again Nov. 11-14. The Thursday-Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. while Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. They can be purchased by visiting theinterpretertix@TheTheaterProjector.org. Purchasers will receive a link one hour before the performance.

For more information and group pricing, visit info@TheTheaterProject.org or call the box office at 908-809-8865.