The Most Precious of Goods – Marylebone Theatre

The staging is set in a leaf filled forest woodland, the feeling is sombre the audience full of anticipation of what this story has to unfold about the atrocities, war crimes on humanity, the deliberate genocide during World War 2, the German invasion.  The story initially focusses on a young Jewish family, who are new parents of newborn twins, full of zest for life and feeling blessed with their two children, a boy a girl. It was spring, 1942 their life full of opportunity until, they were freshly extricated from their home in France and put on a train to somewhere! Unknowing of what was to come and what they would endure the family with others, cramped into small spaces, no food or water would share their anguish and realisations during this gruelling journey, as to their destination; the place we have come to know as the ‘death’ concentration camp in Poland, Auschwitz.         

Samantha Spiro narrates the story from her armchair with empathy sensitivity, engaging with the audience almost immediately. The Cello sounds tunes and riffs played beautifully by Gemma Rosefield add dramatic effect to the profound story lines of this beautiful narration of horror juxtaposition in real terms.   

The wood cutters wife childless and full of hope would watch the trains go by and wave and wonder, ‘so many trains so many people’. As she stood watching she saw something thrown from the train, a bundle in white cloth descending into the deep snow. A man pointing gesticulating to the woman to collect it; she ran she wondered what it could be. The Jewish man struck with desperation and despair, an act of love? Threw his daughter wrapped in white and gold cloth from the moving train into the snow below. The train continued on its journey and the family at that moment had lost one child to the holocaust.

This is where the story changes and the fairytale of hope and joy begin. The gift of life snatched from one parent and handed quite literally to another.  As the narrator continues to share the lives of the woodcutter’s wife and Rose with animation and ease it is easy to see that life was not easy and full of adversity. The simple set was perfect the black and white contrast against the stark cold woodland scenes is stark because the true emotion was embedded within the story.

This play provoked thought and reflection and thrives in meaning in a week that remembers, Holocaust Memorial Day, 27^th January, very poignant, and currently very political. 

Grumberg’s story is brought to life by Kent is a way that is witty, with integrity and authenticity to the plight of the Jews at this time. The narrator asks, ‘a true story?’ How does it end? Just like most stories go and see and read it for yourself.

Playing until 3rd February, https://www.marylebonetheatre.com/productions/the-most-precious-of-goods

Reviewer: Michelle Knight

Reviewed: 23rd January 2024

North West End UK Rating: