A review by rebecca_simard
The Trial of God: (as It Was Held on February 25, 1649, in Shamgorod) by Elie Wiesel

challenging reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

Absolutely love the premise of the play, which follows a group of Jewish entertainers who find themselves in Shamgorod in a tavern which is owned by the only two living Jews in the city after a mob killed the rest of their community. The owner of the tavern, angry at God for allowing the Holocaust to happen, insists that the only entertainment they provide be a trial of God for allowing humanity to commit such violence.  The premise alone is 5 stars, as are many of the individual lines which will certainly be sticking with me... unfortunately, this play follows one conversation, much of which is deliberating what will be performed and who will play which roles, which is far less interesting than the theological and ethical questions posed in the trial itself, which only begins in the third act. As far as enjoyment goes, this could be a 3-3.5, but the message is haunting enough that I can not rate it below 4 stars. The introduction and afterwords should also not be skipped.
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