The Immigrant
Nathan Schmidt
I have had the opportunity to work with a number of professional actors and directors with the American Monarch Theatre Company. I am helping out as co-stage manager for their production of The Immigrant. This musical will be performed on Saturday and Sunday at the Sigal Museum in Easton and I highly recommend that you all go see it (details on the Sigal Museum website). I am writing a brief description of the show and the part that I found was most meaningful to me. But whether you intend on seeing the show or not, don't worry, I will do my best to avoid any spoilers.
This show takes place in the 1900s and it follows the life of Haskell Harelik, a Russian immigrant who came to America in search of a better life. He starts this journey by selling bananas in the town of Hamilton, Texas. It is there that he finds Milton and Ima Perry, a wealthy couple living in the area. Ima, seeing that Haskell is poor, wants to give him a place to stay for a few nights, and after some convincing, Milton agrees. The couple, however, starts having second thoughts about this decision after learning that Haskell is Jewish. The couple, never-the-less, decides to help Haskell. The story that follows involves Haskell's attempt to start a new life in an area where others do not care for the place where he came from and the religion he believes in. The theme buried within that topic is certainly nothing to overlook, but I felt captivated by another part of the story.
Throughout the story, Haskell credits Milton with saving his life. Milton gave Haskell a temporary place to live and helped him grow his business. The friendship between the two characters grows stronger as the show progresses. During one scene in the show, Haskell and Leah (Haskell's wife who also immigrated from Russia) invite Milton and Ima to dinner. What started as a friendly get-together progressed into something far worse when the two men started discussing the forbidden fruit of dinner topics: politics. Haskell, a Jewish man, believed that the United States should get involved in the Second World War to save the lives of people being oppressed by Germany. Milton, however, was worried about the economics of the issue and believed the United States should not get involved in a conflict that did not pertain to them. What started as a friendly conversation evolved into politicals discourse, which passed on to personal insults and attacks between the two friends.
So why did I find this so captivating? Well, I cannot think of a more relevant topic of discussion then that example right there. We are all individuals with different beliefs and ideas, and that is what makes us so great. A problem arises when we look at others who disagree with us as enemies. The moment that people attack others based on different political beliefs is the moment that democracy is ruined, friendships are broken, and families are destroyed.
I couldn't agree more. Political discussion is so important, when the situation is appropriate, and the discussion is genuine. (Argument, not fight, right?) But more often than not, it goes so wrong.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine is a freshmen in college, and him and his friend somehow started talking about politics. When his friend found out that he wasn't sure who he would vote for in 2020 (he wants to know both candidates before deciding), his friend abruptly left after saying not to talk to him ever again.
If we're friends only with people who think the same way as us and hold all of the same viewpoints, is that really a way to live? I think life is richest when we are open to people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and, yes, political affiliations.
The show has already passed so I am just going to elaborate on what happens in the part that I described above. The scene about the political argument occurred between Haskell and Milton. Haskell and Leah, who are both Jewish, had invited Milton and Leah, both Christians, over for dinner and the Shabbos, a holly Jewish day. The conversation that followed was an argument between Haskell and Milton that grew increasingly more aggressive. Leah and Ima tried to discourage political talk on the Shabbos but the two men refused to listen. The conversation ended with a number of personal attacks followed by Milton storming out of the house and bringing and embarrassed Ima with him. The part that was so meaningful to me was how strong the friendship between the two characters was before this incident. The two men grew so close that Haskell named his third child after his friend, Milton. After the conversation, the two families did not speak to each other until the day of baby Milton's graduation, which was years later. On this day, Ima invited the Hareliks over to her house to see Milton, who had suffered from a stroke and could no longer speak or move well. Haskell would go on to apologize for all that had happened between the two of them before going home. Milton passed away soon later.
ReplyDeleteThis scene captures the regret of the two men who had let a discussion over politics ruin their entire friendship until the day of Milton's death. Their relationship was never restored.
And Megan,
Yes the conversation started as an argument but turned into a fight with personal insults. And the example you gave with your friend in college seems very similar to the one in the show. People can really miss out on great relationships with actions like that. I also completely agree that it is important to expose ourselves to different ideas and to different people regardless of the beliefs that they hold.