Playing for Time

by Arthur Miller

A searing drama of the Holocaust—and the remarkable, moving story of the Auschwitz Women’s Orchestra
 
Paris, 1942. Fania Fénelon, a popular Jewish nightclub singer, is arrested by the occupying Germans. Sent to Auschwitz in a packed freight-car, shorn of her hair, tattooed with an identifying number, starved, and subjected to harsh labor, she loses all traces of her former self. But her life at the camp changes dramatically when she is drafted into the Women’s Orchestra, a desperate little ensemble that marches the prisoners out to work and gives concerts for the German high brass. Led by Alma Rosé, a sternly ambitious German-Jewish conductor who knows that her job is a matter of life and death, Fania and her fellow musicians must confront the horror taking place around them while pushing themselves to create beauty in the midst of despair.
 
Based on Fania Fénelon’s memoir of the same name, Arthur Miller’s Playing for Time was first produced as a CBS television drama starring Vanessa Redgrave before being adapted for the stage.

Genres: Plays, Historical Fiction, Literature, Read For School, Classics, Holocaust, War

Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Works of American playwright Arthur Asher Miller include Death of a Salesman (1949), for which he won a Pulitzer Prize, and The Crucible (1953).


This essayist, a prominent figure in literature and cinema for over 61 years, composed a wide variety, such as celebrated A View from the Bridge and All My Sons , still studied and performed worldwide. Miller often in the public eye most famously refused to give evidence to the un-American activities committee of the House of Representatives, received award for drama, and married Marilyn Monroe. People at the time considered the greatest Miller.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_...

Reviews

[Sepehr · Rating 3 out of 5]

یا بمیر یا بنواز :

اسلاوی ژیژک در یکی از کنفرانس‌های خود از یک طنز آشویتسی استفاده می‌کند که با نقل به مضمون چنین است :
روزی چند یهودی در بهشت لب ساحل دراز کشیده بودند و هر یک خاطره‌ای می‌گفت و الباقی قاه قاه می‌خندیدند. خدا که در حال قدم‌زنی در آن حوالی بود صدای خنده‌ی آنها را می‌شنود و جلوتر می‌رود تا ببیند چه موضوعی برای آنها آنقدر خنده‌دار است. یکی از آنها به دیگری می‌گوید فلانی، یادت هست که قبل از اینکه به اتاق گاز بفرستندمان تو افتادی و گردنت شکست و قبل از رفتن به اتاق گاز مردی؟
دوستش در حالی که میخندد حرف او را تصدیق می‌کند.
خدا نزدیک آن‌ها می‌شود و می‌گوید: عذر می‌خواهم فرزندانم ولی من متوجه منظور شما نمی‌شوم.
یکی از یهودی‌ها با لبی خندان بلند می‌شود و دست بر شانه خدا می‌گذارد و می‌گوید : اشکالی ندارد خدای من. تو که آنجا نبودی، معلوم است که متوجه نمی‌شوی.

متن به نسبت بلندی نوشته بودم درباره آشویتس و این کتاب ولی حس می‌کنم این اشاره کوتاه به سخن ژیژک به قدر کافی رسانا هست.
میلر این متن را بر اساس خاطرات فانیا فنلون تدوین کرد. گویا این اثر به منظور اجرا به شکل تله تئاتر و به منظور فیلم‌برداری نوشته شده، چون پرده ندارد.
فکر می‌کنم هرچقدر هم درباره‌ی اردوگاه‌های کار اجباری خوانده باشیم، همچنان روایت‌های ناشنیده‌ای از آن وجود خواهند داشت. این کار هم بخشی کوچکی از ناگفته‌های تاریخ بود. ارکستری از زنان محبوس که برای زنده ماندن مجبور به اجرای موسیقی برای قاتلان هم مسلکانشان هستند.
از آنجایی که متن شامل پرده یا فصل نمی‌شد، کمی زیادی ممتد و خسته‌کننده بود. میلر مثل همیشه، دیالوگ‌های ساده و گیرا نوشته بود با این همه کمی از اوج خودش فاصله داشت و حتی با وجود چنین موضوعی برای پرداخت، دیگر آن هیجان و خشم ناشی از میلرخوانی نصیبم نشد. پایان‌بندی هم هرچند خوش بود اما با یک کات ناگهانی و به شکل سرهم‌بندی شده‌ای ارائه شد. گویی که میلر به جهت اینکه داستان بر اساس واقعیت بود، صرفا خواسته بود رعایت امانت کند و به مخاطب بگوید قصه اینگونه به سر رسید.

[Bt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always struck by the quality of Arthur Miller's dialogue and writing in general. I mean, it shouldn't be a surprise since he's almost universally hailed as one of the best playwrights of all time. But there are some writers who I think must have gotten famous by chance or luck or gimmicks. And I am continuously reminded that Arthur Miller is definitely not one of them. Though it is not one of his better known plays, Playing for Time is a great one: very moving and thought-provoking. I love that it raises so many tough, and perhaps unanswerable, moral questions. And of course, the characters are beautiful and complex and heat-breaking, each in their own way.

I want to mention a specific issue that is confronted in this play which is part of the reason I liked it so much. Very commonly in modern media and writing, I see straw man versions of Nazis. They're basically portrayed as pure demons from hell. Depending on the type of movie, they may come off as buffoonish or barbaric, but either way, they are shown as villainous through and through and basically incapable of love or kindness. Now I am DEFINITELY NOT saying that I approve of what the Nazis did, but I also think that portraying them this way is a big mistake, and I really appreciated that Playing for Time doesn't take this easy route out. Instead, it illustrates that the Nazis were all individual humans, just like you and me; and this is one of the most tragic and frightening things about them. The Holocaust wasn't a time when we were all suddenly attacked by scary monsters. It was a time when humans turned against other humans. And the world is still full of humans, so it could happen again. The capacity for evil is a part of our species, and we have to actively fight against it; there, but for the grace of God, are we.

[season · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miller definitely did not disappoint with Playing for Time. He examines the underlying tension between characters who are victims of their own moral shortcomings, and characters who are destroyed because of their moral convictions. Books on the holocaust have always peaked my interest as they depict one of the most horrific events in the history of mankind, and show the sheer horror and calculated coldbloodedness that humans are capable of. But Miller’s Playing for Time stands out from the rest with his deep and complex characters. The Nazis are not portrayed as caricatures of evil, but are actual humans, albeit extremely flawed. This ultimately makes the story even more unsettling as it shows the brutal atrocities we as humans are capable of.

Overall a really moving read, and a quick one. Would recommend.

[Cheryl Lim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and meaningful play about depravity and morality during the Holocaust, from the perspectives of Jewish women in the concentration camps. Not typically a fan of plays but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

[Pukar Subedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short play delves deep into the pysche of Jewish women in concentration camps. As the horrors of war and imprisonment continue endlessly, they soon become immune to the violence and brutality of such trying times.

Prostitution, murder, genocide, nothing seems to faze them as the prospect of death lingers on.

If I had to critique an aspect of the play, it is how abruptly time is skipped to maintain the narrative.

[Mahta · Rating 3 out of 5]

ببشتر البته فیلمنامه‌س تا نمایشنامه ولی خب. دلگیر.

[Carlie Franzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very powerful and moving story, however I found that it was hard to get through at times. The dialogue was a bit stunted and awkward at places and the characters were all kind of confusing.

[Sofea Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

studying this book genuinely was the most depressing thing i’ve ever had to do in the 12-year span of my academic career, and yet i can’t help but be blown away by miller’s ability to present different perspectives of prisoners in Auschwitz. the way they choose to cope with the tragic circumstances of their situation, how they struggle with their sense of self (religion, nationality, their right as human beings, their self-identity as a whole), etc. and how the Germans are not presented as the quintessence of evil, but rather are portrayed as human beings with feelings and sentiments who have this twisted, skewed sense of ‘duty’ (a consequence of being brainwashed by the Nazi ideology). i also find it intriguing how, in a sense, by making Fania the play’s moral voice, it is heavily implied that the orchestra girls may not be innocent in the atrocities of the camp, and may instead be complicit. as the play progresses, Fania’s disillusionment at the state of humanity becomes progressively evident, which invites this almost melancholia feel to pervade every aspect of the play. okay i’ll stop yapping but yay i love authors with interesting brains and also the holocaust is repeating itself (cold-blooded murder of Palestinians and Lebanon citizens in the name of land and establishing a Jewish state, and how Israelis have this twisted sense of moral duty. they truly believe they have every right to displace millions of Palestinians and commit murders left and right. ironic!)

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although seemingly just a stage version of Fenelon's holocaust experience, this play is far from that.

Miller touches on every aspect of human life we see on a daily. The compassion and cohesive will to survive between the orchestra yet also the very distinct separation the Jews face, perpetuated by Fania's resolution to set out the fact that she is however different from the 'full-Jews.'

This is a play about making important choices and Miller shows this through the ill-fate of significant characters like Marianna and Alma, who were never once outrightly introduced to the audience as evil and malicious characters like those directly involved in German regime such as Frau Schmidt.

[Jace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a play I had to study for my Literature class but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and dissecting the symbolisms in the play. The play showcases the tragic story of female prisoners in Auschwitz concentration camp in WWII, where these women are forced into playing in an orchestra for their survival. This play does an excellent job of showing internal conflict, rebellion, a clash of moral values and a power struggle among the women because they all fear death under the rule of the Nazis in the concentration camp. The characters are often forced to resort to any means of survival, even if it is at the cost of their dignity.

[EatMelons · Rating 4 out of 5]

i appreciated miller’s intention to not showcase violence directly in order to not distract the audience from the true themes in the play, despite violence being an easy way to capture attention. i was very intrigued by the concept of power and how a taste of it can make the oppressed turn on its own kind without much guilt. this book inspired me to read Ordinary Men by C.Browning.

[R.K. Cowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 3/4 stars

[Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful book and the interplay of stage directions amplifies is something to look out for too.

[Cadence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has flashes of brilliance and is rather moving

[Chienney · Rating 5 out of 5]

11/2023: the first play I've properly analysed (for school!) and I still really like it. I especially like how the duality of humans was portrayed and the idea of what is morally right/wrong - who are we to comment on the actions of others when we don't live their lives?

2/2023: The main themes of staying true to your beliefs and values and them being what truly humanises us — and how it’s portrayed in the play is so so beautiful. While readers (from what I've heard) largely dislike fania because of her moral superiority, I personally think her struggle to remain true to her values gives her so much more personality and allows us to reconsider what the point of living is if we barely have a sense of self to stay true to. Then again what constitutes the self? (Unfortunately I don’t have an answer to this)
I loved the responsibility she took on to bear witness to the Auschwitz atrocities, to be able to remember and share her experiences.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A play about playing in a band in a concentration camp. Makes you consider ethics, the atrocities of Nazi Germany, survival, and human behavior. Read with a group of Juniors in HS in a literature circle.

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was in this play -- twice. It was originally a teleplay, then re-written for the stage, so in some parts it's not interesting theater. But it's a great Holocaust story.