Prefer Jewish News on Google
REVIEW: Memoriam, Southwark Playhouse
Beverley Klein shines in haphazard Holocaust tale with science fiction premise
Noga Flaishon’s Memoriam tackles an ambitious conceit. That the memory of the world’s last survivor of the Holocaust can be digitally extracted from their brain and preserved so as to be able to be downloaded by future viewers. This of course is science-fiction – always a challenging genre, even for the best of writers.
Flaishon then muddies her waters somewhat by introducing an exploitative commercial angle to the narrative, setting out the risks to any memory-donor of their own memory being edited to enhance the memory’s profitability. And all of a sudden what could have been a fascinating analysis of a new (albeit fictional) medium for telling the ghastly history of the Holocaust, gets lost in a mini-parable on the evils of capitalism.
Delivering a magnificent performance, Beverley Klein is Rivka, the 92-year-old survivor. Klein embodies the grievous pain that her character has endured, while still possessing a formidable energy and rumbustiousness that clearly defines her will to live and her ability indeed, to have survived.
Rachel Barry plays her granddaughter (Rachel), who conveniently happens to be an accomplished acquirer of memories for the Memoriam Corporation, the ugly rapacious corporate and the baddy of the piece. While the character of Rachel may at times be clumsily created, Barry makes fine work of the script.
Ben Wiggins is Chris, Rachel’s boss and the story’s pantomime villain. Again, and from an acting perspective, Wiggins makes a decent fist of a very two-dimensional character. Ashley Margolis is Rachel’s brother David, whose role in the tale amounts to little more than distracting sibling rivalries and squabbling. Completing the quintet is perhaps the most modest but perfectly formed role in the whole play, that of Jimena Larraguivel’s Becky, who discovers first-hand how brutal the Memoriam Corporation’s editing process can be.
There is food for thought in this finely performed, but somewhat haphazard tale.
Memoriam is at Southwark Playhouse until 21 November. southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
