West Valley Drama Club

#1.)

West Valley Drama club hosted a reader’s theater performance of ‘Faust,’ by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe on October 15 th . It was in the style of the music from 30 years ago, when KSUA was reborn into its current, non-commercial, Alternative music station.

Considered by many to be the single most important piece of German literature, ‘Faust’ has been reproduced in numerous artistic forms throughout history. Albeit not created in a vacuum (it was based on the Biblical story of Simon the Magician) it’s use of language surpasses all others in this genre. The students at West Valley have conceived of an original homage to the linguistic duel, which takes place between Faust and Mephistopheles. Reminiscent of ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia,’ this interpretation reads as a late ‘80’s-early ‘90’s rap battle, complete with Run D.M.C.’s track gear. It was original and fun.

The students had a great time finding the rhythm and style to Goethe’s dope lyricism. Ain’t no party like a rococo party, y’all!

#2.)

The students down the hill at the West Valley Drama club have also recently performed a unique, local play about the Holocaust in Alaska, called “Alaska, the Last Hope,” which elucidated this relatively-unknown aspect of Alaskan history to the public and students.

Written by UAF emeritus sociology professor Gerald Berman, his play is the culmination of decades of research in the Slattery Report – the failed attempt to bring German Jews to Alaska during the Holocaust. It was framed as an economic incentive for the state, impoverished from the declining gold production and remote logistics. Alaskan business leaders needed qualified labor (workers, who were literate and could use adding machines) in Alaska to develop the economy. Harold Ickes, the Secretary of the Interior, wanted to save innocent people’s lives from a Fascist state, but couldn’t tell people that because the U.S. had already decided not to take Jewish refugees. Alaska, however, was a territory, not a state, so the story follows the legal battle to bring the fleeing people here, which ultimately failed. The only other piece of literature about this tragic point in history is ‘The Yiddish Policemen’s Union,’ by Michael Chabon, which imagines the Slattery Report was successful and Sitka became a new Jewish center in Alaska. It follows a murder mystery plot to add some zest to the story.

In tackling this difficult work, the students learned a great deal about Jewish Alaskan history as well as dramaturgy and how to workshop original scripts for the stage.

Post by The Apocalyptic Radio Lounge