“I didn’t survive Hitler and twenty years in the
God-damned Middle East to be afraid of a punk
with a pistol who is too afraid to use it.”
Out of Ignorance
Full-length · 3 men, 1 woman
This is a play (inspired by true stories) about the relationship that develops between a young “white supremacist” and a Jewish Holocaust survivor. Wesley “Weasel” Ames belongs to a neo-Nazi group. He is a lost soul who needs something to believe in, and is being indoctrinated by his old friend, Raymond “Ratbite” Wilson. Weasel's sister, Louise, is a plain-speaking, devout Christian who deplores Weasel's neo-Nazi activities. Weasel, who was always a sickly child, is confined to a wheelchair.
As the play opens, Mr. Rosenthal has just moved into the neighborhood. He is a formidable character: tough, fearless, and full of rage. He not only survived the Holocaust, but served in a special forces unit in Israel. Rosenthal is haunted by the peculiar manner in which he survived the Holocaust, and struggles against seeing any meaning in existence. Ratbite tells Weasel to get to know Rosenthal as a way of infiltrating the Jewish community. The initial encounters between Weasel and Rosenthal are hostile and explosive. Over time, however, they begin to respect each other as they disclose the suffering they have endured.
Weasel struggles to make sense of his world as he is confronted with a range of diverse experiences: Ratbite’s neo-Nazi brainwashing, Louise's preaching about Jesus, and the fascination of Mr. Rosenthal, the first Jew Weasel has ever met. The play explores Jewish-Christian issues, the transforming impact of compassion, and the need to find meaning in life.
FULL-LENGTH DRAMAS
MUSICALS
ONE-ACT PLAYS
SHORT PLAYS