Carrying the Word So We Will Never Forget - a conversation with Claude Pensis, director of WHO WILL CARRY THE WORD? at Grand Canyon University

the cast of Who Will Carry the Word? at Grand Canyon University
photo by William Symington

by Julia Bashaw

It may seem that events such as World War II, that happened so long ago, can't possibly apply to anyone today. Claude Pensis, the Dean of College of Fine Arts and Production who oversees Grand Canyon University’s theatre program, believes events of the past, specifically the horrific events of the Holocaust that happened 75 years ago, are ones that must still be discussed today, which is exactly what he's doing in bringing Who Will Carry the Word? to GCU.

The Holocaust resulted in the murders of some 6 million Jewish Europeans between 1941-1945. But there were others besides the European Jews who ended up in the concentration camps including Charlotte Delbo, a French Resistance fighter, who was imprisoned in Auschwitz but survived. She wrote a play on her experiences called Who Will Carry The Word? which GCU opens this Friday at their Ethington Theatre.

“It is a call to action,” Pensis stated firmly. “The Holocaust is a very important part of our history. We are doing the play because we do not want to forget that this happened, that this is a part of the history of the human condition. It is a lesson that we must learn and we must remember so as to never ever go that direction again.”

As heavy as the topic may be, the play is designed like a Greek Chorus or dramatic poem; a recounting of the events that occurred. There are not any Nazis shown, and no violence is seen, rather it is about the people.

Claude Pensis (center) talks to the cast and crew during final rehearsals
photo by William Symington

“There are horrible atrocities that are listed in the play,” Claude explained. “But you don't see them happen because ultimately it’s about the incident rather than seeing the incident. The play portrays 23 women of the 200 French Resistance workers who are taken to Auschwitz. And out of those 200, only two of them remain. The title of the play says it all, it is a matter of who will carry the word, so that someone will be able to tell the story of the atrocities they all suffered.”

Pensis wanted his GCU students to be as authentic as possible when portraying these real-life characters but Charlotte Delbo passed away in 1985. So Claude had a Holocaust survivor who is still alive today come and talk to the students.

“That had quite an effect on the students,” Claude said. “Everyone have an idea of what happened, but coming first hand from a survivor was pretty difficult but very, very, very important. We also brought in one of our Dean's, Sherman Elliot, who is a specialist in the Holocaust and the first day of rehearsal basically was a history class on everything that led up to the Holocaust.”

This production is going to be heavy but moving. Pensis explained his experience talking with survivors and trying to translate accuracy into this play.

“Something I took away from the Holocaust survivors I’ve spoken with is that when we asked how they dealt with the incredibly emotional and horrific things that they had to deal with, the answer was that they were so starved and so thirsty that they could not afford an emotional breakdown. In my words, I think they had to compartmentalize to a degree. So that idea permeates the acting style that we are using, there is an emotion but it is all tightly controlled.”

It can be a hard play to come to grips with however there is hope. A man named Amnon Weinstein who is an Israeli violin maker has spent the last 20 years locating and reconditioning violins that were played by the Jewish people in the concentration camps. It is called the “Violins of Hope”, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. On February 16th after the Saturday performance, they will be coming to do a presentation about the violins and will also play some of them for the audience as one of their educational outreaches. It is sure to be a moving performance.

When asked what he hopes audiences will take away from this production, Pensis expressed, “I hope that it impresses upon people the dignity and the majesty of the human spirit. I hope that it teaches them a history lesson never to be forgotten. And I hope that it can help in any way possible to bring about social change when it comes to any sort of prejudice or bigotry or oppression.”

CLICK HERE for more information on Who Will Carry the Word?, which plays Grand Canyon University from February 8-17