Perihelion

by Marilyn Schotland

Summer, 1939: three friends are on the hunt for a comet in Paris. Vibrant astronomer Rosa dreams of fame, prickly medievalist Jude longs for an end to academic woes, and mercurial ex-thief Val hopes to be sober enough to see it. When Rosa's eager protégé Sigal enters the fold, the bonds uniting them all begin to fray. As the summer comes to an end, a betrayal splinters the group irreparably just as France...

Summer, 1939: three friends are on the hunt for a comet in Paris. Vibrant astronomer Rosa dreams of fame, prickly medievalist Jude longs for an end to academic woes, and mercurial ex-thief Val hopes to be sober enough to see it. When Rosa's eager protégé Sigal enters the fold, the bonds uniting them all begin to fray. As the summer comes to an end, a betrayal splinters the group irreparably just as France marches headlong into conflict with Germany. Six years later, Rosa has gone missing. The remaining friends tenuously reunite to look for her, but complications arise when Rosa’s impetuous younger brother shows up with Val’s ex-lover in tow. The comet hunters are forced to grapple with the choices they made before, during, and after the war.

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Perihelion

Recommended by

  • Playwrights Foundation: Perihelion by Marilyn Schotland
    “

    The community of National Committee readers for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced Perihelion as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We found the script to be richly textured, poetic, and engaging. Readers leaned in to the smart dialog and nuanced characters. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production.

    The community of National Committee readers for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced Perihelion as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We found the script to be richly textured, poetic, and engaging. Readers leaned in to the smart dialog and nuanced characters. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production.

    ”
  • Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn: Perihelion by Marilyn Schotland
    “

    These characters are all so well defined, smart and vibrant. It seems they are at their own "perihelion" where they are so close to what they want and who they want to be, but the goals are harder to see when they are obscured by the sun.
    Just a fascinating piece of history/science/society all in one play.

    These characters are all so well defined, smart and vibrant. It seems they are at their own "perihelion" where they are so close to what they want and who they want to be, but the goals are harder to see when they are obscured by the sun.
    Just a fascinating piece of history/science/society all in one play.

    ”
  • Tony Tambasco: Perihelion by Marilyn Schotland
    “

    A compelling story about trying to find meaning in a chaotic universe.

    A compelling story about trying to find meaning in a chaotic universe.

    ”

Character Information

  • Rosa Wolf
    A vibrant Jewish-American astronomer. Giddy, intelligent, and intensely devoted to her work.
    Late 20s
    Jewish
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • Val Kaufmann
    An alcoholic Jewish fortune teller and ex-thief. Charming, mercurial, and barely holding himself together.
    Mid 30s
    Jewish
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary
  • Jude Renard
    A lecturer in medieval art at the Sorbonne. Rosa's lover. Competent, clever, and ambitious to a fault.
    Early 30s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • Sigal Ginzburg
    A French-Jewish art history student. Jude's protégé. A bit prickly, but opens up after a while.
    Late teens/Early 20s
    Jewish
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • Isaac Wolf
    Rosa’s impetuous younger brother. Flirty and loyal when he wants to be. Talks a mile a minute.
    Early 20s
    Jewish
    Trans man
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary
  • Misha Olkhovsky
    A grumpy Russian-American PI. Val’s ex. Mostly regret, partially snark. WWI vet; uses a cane.
    Early 40s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading, University of Southern California, 2022

Awards