Irena’s Vow
Boris Kalendariov
The Power of a Vow
Sometimes the strength and determination of one person’s vow can save the lives of others. This is especially evident in “Irena’s Vow”, a new play by Dan Gordon at the Baruch Performing Arts Center. “Irena’s Vow”, based on a true story, takes us back to German occupied western Poland in the 1940s. Tovah Feldshuh plays as Irena Gut Opdyke, a Polish woman who took upon herself and managed to hide twelve Jewish men and women in the villa of a Nazi Major.
Irena was born into a Catholic family in Central Poland. During her teenage years she studied nursing, this, however, came to a halt when she joined the resistance as Germany invaded Poland. Captured by the Russians she was beaten and raped. She successfully escaped from the hands of the Russians only to be captured later by the Germans forces, who forced her to work in a munitions plant. Things changed when Irena’s duties were shifted to oversee the laundry and kitchen services due to the arrangements of Major Eduard Regemer. There she supervised eleven Jewish men and women.
One day while working in the kitchen Irena overheard that the Jews she supervises would be eliminated. After witnessing a horrifying event in the Jewish Ghetto, Irena makes a vow; if she ever has the chance to save a life, she will. Catching the attention of Major Regemer, she was assigned to be his housekeeper. With this in mind and the risks that came along with it she brilliantly crafted a plan to hide the Jews in his cellar.
Ms. Feldshuh’s high caliber performance was greatly portrayed in this play as her commanding role captivated the audience and her close calls with the angel of death kept us in suspense. Especially when old man Major Regemer, played by Thomas Ryan, found out that she deceived him and she becomes his mistress to silence him. Michael Parva does his job in beautifully maneuvering Ms. Feldshuh and her nine convincing cast members in delivering a stellar performance.
From beginning to end “Irena’s Vow” masterfully does its job and portrays its message. We are the last generation to witness and hear the atrocities that occurred not so long ago. With people denying the existence of the Holocaust and the last survivors dying it is our duty to implant the truths in our minds and retell the stories for decades to come. Like Irena, we have to make a vow; a vow to promise that we have to let our generation know of what happened and to never let it occur again. Bravo! Irena for this lesson and thank you.
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