Yearning to Breathe Free

They are herded in. Clutching the few things they carry. Clutching each other. Their eyes are heavy - from lack of sleep, from the arduous journey, from the fear of what comes next. But behind it all, in their eyes is hope. They have reached America.

This scene is familiar to every American. We are a nation of immigrants. Nearly all of us came from other countries, whether recently or generations ago, and have made this land our home. With each new wave of people seeking the promise of America, the tapestry of our story grows richer and broader.

This summer we have a chance to see a moment of that story come to life with the world premiere of The Tarnished Door. This new original play, written by Patrick Perkins and produced local Harford County theater company The Shadow Players, follows three groups of immigrants as they come through Ellis Island in the summer of 1910. Each of them carries with them the hope of achieving their ultimate dream: America.

First, we meet the Malinowskis; a Jewish family escaping persecution in their home of Krakow, Poland. Heading the family is their eternal optimist father, Herschel (played by William Merlock) and their pragmatic mother, Esther (Diane Traube). Together, they have four daughters: Chana, Rosa, Tilla, and Golde (portrayed by Amanda Merlock, Rachel Airey, Eleanor Fisher, and Amanda Traube, respectively). Each one holds a different opinion on their family’s move and the home they left behind. But will their family bond be strong enough to hold them together or will America tear them apart?

Next, we encounter Hans Meier and Otto Schumacher. Hans (Liam Cockerham) is an idealist swept up in the thrill of the worker’s movement in Germany. His best friend, Otto (Adam Nelson), is not nearly as zealous, but his undying loyalty would have him follow Hans anywhere. So when Hans meets the lovely Chana Malinowski traveling through Bremen with her family on their way to America, he and Otto quickly decide to book their passage with them, in the hopes of opportunity and the chance to follow their hearts.

Finally, there are the Devlins; a young Irish couple seeking a fresh start to build a new future. Joseph (Brennan Traube) and Patricia (Shannon Perkins) are expecting their first child, making the journey to America that much more dangerous and exhausting for Patricia. For the Devlins, it will take everything they have to make it off Ellis Island and into the land of opportunity. Audiences may note that the Devlin family previously appeared in the 2015 production of The Last Geese of Autumn which followed a family’s journey through the years of the American involvement in World War II. The production opened to much acclaim in the community and featured Anne Acerno in the role of an older Patricia Devlin.

The Shadow Players have picked a poignant moment to debut this latest show. When asked why their company chose to tell this story, artistic director Conor Perkins shared, “When I was thinking about our 2019 season, I was focusing on the theme of home: what makes a home, what does home look like, who does a home belong to? When my father approached me with the concept of this play I knew immediately it was the choice for this season.” Perkins expressed that not only was The Tarnished Door perfect for the company’s theme, but it was also a great fit to address current events related to immigration: “Being one of the only theater companies in the greater Harford County area producing original work and world premiere plays, we have a responsibility to our community to bring them something that they can’t get anywhere else that is relevant to their lives. I can’t think of anything more relevant in 2019 than a story about people in search of a new life, arriving at the borders of America with nothing but hopes and dreams, waiting for the decision of their lives.”

Conor’s father, Patrick Perkins, is both writer and one half of the directing team for The Tarnished Door. He is co-directing the play with his daughter, Erin Perkins, making the production a family affair. He shared a similar sentiment to his son for why he knew this story needed to be written: “I hope in walking the journey with the immigrants in this play the audience will relive their own family's story of coming to America, and in doing so, be reminded of the hopes and dreams that brought them here.” Patrick went on to share his story’s relevance to today saying, “Maybe [the audience] will also realize that many who journey here today share that same yearning to be free.”

The Shadow Players are offering something truly unique for the Harford County area. The company will be offering post-show discussions and talkbacks with the cast and creative team. It is their hope that we will be provided an opportunity to come together as a community, learn from our shared experience, and start a dialogue that can travel beyond the doors of the theater and into our daily lives. As Conor Perkins stated, “The best theater starts conversations and it is my goal with this play to help people start those conversations in a safe environment that leads with empathy and love.”

The Tarnished Door will make its debut Thursday, August 1st at 8pm in Kilduff Hall of St. Francis de Sales Church in Abingdon. The show runs August 1st - 3rd at 8pm with a 3pm matinee on August 3rd. The production concludes with a 3pm dinner theater experience on August 4th to end their performances. To purchase tickets and learn more about The Shadow Players, visit their website at www.shadowplayerstheatre.org.