I Never Saw Another Butterfly: A Play

by Celeste Raspanti

Paperback book

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Historical, Drama, Biography

35 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1971

Reviews

[Andrea]

This was my first highschool production. I portrayed one of the children...VERY MOVING.

[Jason]

A very upsetting, yet deeply moving and lovely piece, based on actual poems and writings from the children of Terezin as told by one of the handful of survivors. This one piece packs a powerful punch.

[Ruby]

Didn't know that Goodreads had I Never Saw Another Butterfly. This play is so sad, but really shows what life was like during the Holocaust. It also shows that life is never perfect.(before COVID, I was a child, when we performed it November 2021, I was the mother)

[Myranda]

I preformed this play and was Raja. This play changed my life.

[Christina Barber]

I have heard people speaking of late about how the dwindling numbers of Holocaust survivors means that the narrative of the Holocaust is turning into history: a distant space left when no one who has lived it is left to relate the experience or serve as witness to one of the most significant human tragedies the world has ever known. On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, I share a play that aims to connect audiences with the experiences of Jews sent to Terezinstadt and those who made their final trip to Auschwitz.

“I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” a play written by Celeste Raspanti was inspired by the book with the same title, which is a collection of surviving works of art and poetry made by the children of Terezin in secret schools designed to help them cope with loss and camp life. Raspanti’s play, an imagined memoir of Raja Englanderova, one of the very few Terezin survivors engages audiences of all ages in the experiences of Jews throughout the war. Not shying away from difficult topics: inhuman treatment, the horrors of the realities of camp life, and the ultimate finality of the last trip to Auschwitz - a stark fate for more than 15,000 children who passed through Terezin, Raspanti brings to life a very human story of courage, perseverance, connection, and love.

I would encourage anyone wanting to help younger generations better understand the Holocaust to read or see this play.

[Sammy]

I was going to perform in this play as the teacher's assistant, Renka. However, COVID-19 forced us to cancel the show. But besides that, this is an amazing play, which is sure to shed tears from the audience and the actors.

[Marianne]

There is a quiet and reverent beauty to this play. The simplicity of the dialog along with the horrific aspects and truth of story make it a must -read and must-see. Very impressive.

[Kait]

4.5

[Lisa]

I enjoyed the poetry and short stories written by the children.

[Elliot Benson]

Perfect and painful.

[C P]

Awful. Find something else to read or teach, preferably by a Jew or at least a real historian. The style is cloying and soporific to this adult but children in the other reviews seem to have liked.

[Abby Fiore]

Such a beautiful story. My school is doing her other play and it was amazing. There is some misinformation in it but it is so important to hear these stories and she did it beautifully.

[Maura]

Very powerful and compelling piece. It is incredibly well written and tells such an important story.

[Irisis OM Wolfe]

Read this in a public place. Almost cried into my iced coffee.

[Olivia Gerakios]

I found this while going through my books! I read this in high school for a project in one of my theatre classes and I forgot about it. After rereading this is such a beautiful and moving play. Would 100% recommend

[Alyssa]

We had to perform this as a play for English. I really didn't like it. The dialogue was forced and cringe-worthy, while the characters had absolutely no dimension. Needless to say, this was excruciatingly painful.

[Kenzie Davis]

I was in this play in Jr High, so it wasn't preformed very well. But even then, as a 13 year old, this play brought me to tears. It brings a beautiful perspective to some terrible events in our history.

[Breana]

This play is beautiful, touching, well-written, artistic, and timeless. It keeps the memory of the Holocaust alive and presents a beautiful message in its readings and performances.

[Christy]

Great book to use with the picture/drawing/poetry book, "I Never Saw Another Butterfly". Serves as a wonderful introduction to the Holocaust for younger readers.

[Tracy Schillemore]

One of my all time favourite plays that I have done. This is so heartbreaking.

[Mairi_k]

I read this (and was in it) when I was young. The Theresianstadt poetry is haunting.

[Terry]

I'm in the play, you see, and, well, so, there's that.

I am Father.

[Carrie Evans]

Sweet and sad.