The Spark, Hannah Senesh
Book and Lyrics by Noelle Donfeld, Music by Sandra Shanin
Hannah Senesh
Stark reality and memories surround Hannah Senesh, a strong-willed, young Jewish Hungarian woman who has been captured by the Nazis after parachuting behind enemy lines in an attempt to rescue both British pilots and Hungarian Jews. She is determined to withstand the frequent interrogations of the Warden, who is equally as determined that Hannah reveal the secret code to her military radio.
Based on the life of Israel ’s most beloved heroine and poet, “Hannah Senesh” shows Hannah recalling meaningful, often joyous, events from her past as a mental escape from the Warden’s torture. As pain and fear start to overwhelm her, Hannah, now 23 years old, envisions memories from her childhood, with her beloved father, Bela, a revered poet and playwright, her mother, Catherine, and brother, George. Through the prism of her memory, we see how a brilliant, 17 year old woman gives up the privileged, though endangered, life of the Jewish Hungarian intelligentsia, to become a woman “of the land” in Israel, choosing to do menial farm work as she tries to find the best way to contribute to the Jewish homeland. She can not convince her widowed mother to leave Hungary , and George feels obligated to finish his education before joining her.
When Hannah learns of Hitler’s final solution, she joins 31 other Jews who become British paratroopers, planning to return toHungary to form a Jewish resistance movement. Among the group is Yoel, the young man who most intrigued Hannah when they briefly met after her arrival in Palestine . It is the memory of their love which truly sustains her.
When his efforts to extract the code from Hannah fail, the Warden imprisons Hannah’s mother, who had refused to escape toPalestine , believing the status of her deceased husband would protect the family from the fate of other Jews. Yet, despite her anguish at her mother’s imprisonment, Hannah continually professes ignorance about the code.
Hannah reaches out to other prisoners, informing them of news she hears and making paper dolls for their children. She impacts everyone who meets her, impressing even one of her guards with her warmth, joy, courage, intelligence and creativity. It is that guard who allows Hannah to briefly reunite with Yoel, who has been captured and brought to the same prison. Distressed by her weakened condition, Yoel tells Hannah to reveal whatever she may know, but Hannah insists on persevering. After months of incarceration, Hannah’s knowledge of plans or a code is useless to the Nazis. However, the Warden’s frustration and anger over Hannah’s refusal to divulge what she knows has become a battle of wills. Only in a later memory do we see that Hannah does, indeed, know the code. Hannah is “visited” in her cell by one final figure who, she believes at first, has come to continue her torture. However, the man is her father, who has come, in death, to finally release her from prison.
Selected Lyrics
A MINUTE AT A TIME
A MINUTE AT A TIME
c) Donfeld/Shanin
Hannah
DON’T FEEL THE PAIN. TRY TO THINK OF ANYTHING, BUT
DON’T FEEL THE PAIN.
YOU KNEW THIS COULD HAPPEN
BUT IT’S REAL AND IT HURTS.
G-D, I HAVE TO MAKE IT STOP.
SOMEHOW I MUST BELIEVE
I WILL ESCAPE FROM THIS HELL.
I HAVE TO STOP THE FEAR
SILENTLY FLOODING MY CELL,
HOW CAN I END THE PAIN
SCREAMING INSIDE OF MY HEAD?
SOMEHOW I MUST BELIEVE
I CAN HOLD ON BY A THREAD.
A MINUTE AT A TIME,
I CAN FACE AN HOUR
A MINUTE AT A TIME
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER
A MINUTE AT A TIME,
I CAN TAKE THE PAIN, AND THE FEAR.
AN HOUR THEN A DAY
I CAN FACE A NIGHTMARE
A MINUTE AT A TIME.
I CAN COUNT THE SECONDS
A MINUTE AT A TIME.
I CAN MAKE THE PAIN DISAPPEAR.
(She takes a deep breath. Her pain is still visible, as she tries to control it.)
BREATHE IN FAMILIAR AIR.
HOME SEEMS A LIFETIME AWAY.
I CAN SEE MAMA THERE,
LAUGHING AS GEORGE AND I PLAY.
RUNNING TO PAPA’S SIDE,
WATCHING HIM READ WHAT I WRITE,
I FEEL HIS RUSH OF PRIDE,
LIFTING ME UP DELIGHT.
A MINUTE AT A TIME,
I CAN FACE EACH HOUR
A MINUTE AT A TIME
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER.
A MINUTE AT A TIME,
I CAN FACE THE PAIN, AND THE FEAR.
A HOUR OR DAY,
I CAN BREAK THEM DOWN TO
A MINUTE AT A TIME.
I CAN FACE A NIGHTMARE…
MAMA, THERE’S A NEW WORLD GROWING
c) Donfeld/Shanin
Hannah
MAMA, THERE’S A NEW WORLD GROWING,
THERE’S NO LIMIT TO WHAT I CAN BE.
WHERE THEY’RE GLAD I’M A JEW
“YOU’RE A JEW, I AM TOO.
IT’S A PLUS. COME WITH US. PLANT A TREE.”
MAMA, THERE’S A NEW WORLD GROWING.
I CAN WORK WITH A PLOW AND A PEN.
IT’S A DREAM COMING TRUE
BEST OF ALL, WHEN WE’RE THROUGH
YOU’LL SEE WE’RE IN EDEN AGAIN.
Mother
SUCH A YOUNG IDEALIST, YOU’LL
WIND UP DEAD.
SHAKING WITH MALARIA OR FEVER.
TRY TO BE A REALIST AND
USE YOUR HEAD.
SOMEONE’S SPINNING DREAMS<
AND YOU BELIEVE HER!
Hannah
MAMA, THERE’S A NEW WORLD GROWING
AND I’M GOING AS SOON AS I CAN.
IN THIS DREAM, I CAN SEE
YOU’LL BE THERE, NEXT TO ME,
AND WE’LL TRULY BE FREE
AND ALIVE.
I CAN SEE THE CITIES GROWING
BRICK BY BRICK.
I SEE HEAPS OF FOOD UPON THE TABLE.
Mother
I CAN SEE YOU IN A CLINIC PALE AND SICK
I CAN SEE YOU SWEATING IN SOME STABLE.
Hannah
I’d like that.
Mother
What?
Hannah
The stable, I mean.
Mother
Oy!
Hannah
MAMA, THERE’S A NEW WORLD GROWING<
THEY ARE SOWING THE FIELDS AS WE SPEAK.
IT WILL BE NO SURPRISE,
Mother
You’ve surprised me enough!
Hannah
WHEN WE WATCH ERETZ RISE
Mother
From the desert? Hah!
Hannah
FROM THE EARTH TO THE SKIES,
Mother
Keep your feet on the ground.
Hannah
RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR EYES,
Mother
Such a dreamer you are!
Hannah
AND WE’LL FINALLY FEEL FREE
Mother
Look at me! I am free!
Hannah
WE WILL BE TRULY FREE,
AND ALIVE.
SOCKS
c) Donfeld/Shanin
Hannah
SOCKS
FIVE HUNDRED SOCKS
IT’S AMAZING HOW MUCH EVERYBODY WALKS.
AND IT COMES AS QUITE A SHOCK
HOW I’VE LEARNED TO HATE EACH SOCK.
Miryam
EACH SOCK!
Both
FIVE HUNDRED SOCKS.
SOCKS,
FIVE HUNDRED SOCKS,
ALL REMINDING ME OF SLIGHTLY ROTTEN LOX.
‘TIL I TRULY START TO DOUBT
THAT THE ODOR WILL WASH OUT OF SOCKS,
SOCKS,
FIVE HUNDRED SOCKS!
Hannah
WASHING SOCKS WAS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
I THOUGHT WE WOULD STAY OUT PICKING GRAPEFRUIT IN THE GROVE,
Both
LEMON BLOSSOMS ON THE BREEZE,
ROWS OF CORN AND OLIVE TREES
BOXING ALL THOSE BERRIES WE COLLECTED.
Hannah
I IMAGINED FIELDS OF GRAPES AND ROSES.
I IMAGINED MATZA BALLS IN POTS UPON THE STOVE.
Both
I CAN STILL ENJOY THE SCENT.
I LOVED EVERYWHERE WE WENT,
Hannah
EVERYWHERE BUT HERE, WHERE MY POOR NOSE IS.
Both
SOCKS
FIVE HUNDRED SOCKS,
THAT ARE RIPE WITH THE AROMA FROM THE FLOCKS.
AFTER WASHING FOR A WEEK,
I MAY NEVER LOSE THE REEK OF SOCKS
SOCKS,
FIVE HUNDRED SOCKS.
ON THE BUS
ON THE BUS
c) Donfeld/Shanin
(Singing to a young boy right before crossing the border into Hungary about their eventual return as heroes to Eretz Israel.)
Hannah
I CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD
RIDING ON A YELLOW BUS
I CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD
NO ONE’S LAUGHING MORE THAN US.
OH, THE STORIES WE CAN TELL!
Peretz
THE KIBBUTZNIKS ALL ARE GOING TO KVELL
Hannah
HOW WE MADE A HEAVEN OUT OF HELL
All
WE WILL TELL THEM
ON THE ROAD.
Yoel
I CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD
WE’LL BE WELCOMED EVERY PLACE!
Peretz
I CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD
GIANT SMILES ON EVERY FACE.
All
THEY’LL BE TOASTING OUR SUCCESS,
AND WE’LL ALL BE HEROES, MORE OR LESS.
THERE’LL BE KLEZMER MUSIC, AND I’D GUESS,
THEY WILL BLESS US
ON THE ROAD.
THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE ARE FREEING!
THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO’LL BE PLAYING IN THE SUN.
THINK ABOUT THE SIGHTS THAT WE’LL BE SEEING.
THERE’LL BE SWARMS OF PEOPLE ROUND THE CLOCK
AS THE SHIPS PULL INTO HAIFA ‘S DOCK.
Hannah
I CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD,
YOU SIT BACK AND I WILL DRIVE.
Yoel
You?
Peretz
I CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD
SAFE AND HAPPY. AND ALIVE.
Hannah
CLOSE YOUR EYES AND PICTURE US.
Peretz
YOU WILL SEE OUR LANDSMEN MAKE A FUSS.
Hannah
YOU ARE SHY, I KNOW, BUT THAT’S A PLUS
All
ON OUR BUS OUT
ON THE ROAD.
ON THE BUMPY, TURNING
CHOKING, CHURNING,
BUMPY, TURNING,
CHOKING, CHURNING,
POT-HOLED, PITIFUL,
GLORIOUS ROAD!
THE CODE
THE CODE
c) Donfeld/Shanin
(The Warden threatens Hannah concerning her mother’s incarceration.)
Warden
NO WARM SHAWL,
NO SOFT BED,
EATING A SLOP THAT’S BARELY FIT
FOR CONSUMPTION.
SHE MIGHT FALL
BANG HER HEAD,
NO ONE WILL NOTICE HER. WELL, THAT’S
MY ASSUMPTION.
SHE LOOKS TOO DELICATE TO ROT HERE IN PRISON.
LOOK AT HER. MAMA’S GETTING OLD.
SHE SHOULD BE IN A PARK, NOT HERE IN PRISON,
SHAKING FROM FEAR OR FROM THE COLD.
(Hannah stokes her mother’s hair.)
Mother
I’m stronger than you think, Hannah.
Hannah
I know, Mama.
Warden
DOES SHE HATE
WHY SHE’S HERE,
HATE THAT HER DAUGHTER IS A SPY AND A TRAITOR?
MAMA’S FATE
ISN’T CLEAR.
WILL SHE BE TORTURED OR WILL FREEDOM AWAIT HER?
LOOK AT HER SITTING THERE, PALE AS A SPECTER.
I’M SURE SHE’S FEELING QUITE CONFUSED.
SHE HAS TO WONDER WHY HER CHILD WON’T PROTECT HER,
WHY YOU WOULD LET HER BE ABUSED.
WILL SHE DIE?
WILL SHE LIVE?
WILL SHE BE STRIPPED…OF HER DIGNITY,
OR SHOT?
IF YOU LIE,
SHE’LL FORGIVE,
BUT YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT I WILL NOT.
FOR WE BOTH KNOW THAT YOU WERE
CAUGHT WITH A RADIO,
CAUGHT WITH THIS RADIO,
AND YOU REFUSED TO GIVE
(spoken)
THE CODE.
STAY WITH ME
STAY WITH ME
c) Donfeld/Shanin
(Yoel has been captured but allowed a moment with Hannah, who has been badly tortured, as she still refuses to give the Warden her radio’s code.)
Yoel(Sotto voce)
HANNAH, YOU MUST SAY SOMETHING,
SOMETHING TO GET THEM TO STOP.
HOW MUCH MORE CAN YOU TAKE?
THEY WON’T STOP ‘TIL THEY BREAK YOU,
HANNAH.
(sotto voce) It’s enough!
Hannah
WHEN HIS STRAP BEGINS TO BURN ME,
WHEN THE FEAR IS SHARP AND REAL,
I ESCAPE. I LEAVE THIS HELL BEHIND.
YOU REACH OUT AND BRUSH MY CHEEK,
IT’S ONLY YOU, I SEE OR FEEL
HIDDEN IN THE CORNER OF MY MIND.
YOU STAY WITH ME
YOU LIFT ME UP AND HOLD ME
YOU STAY WITH ME
YOU SHIELD ME IN YOUR ARMS,
AND KISS ME, OH, SO SOFTLY.
LIKE A COOLING MORNING BREEZE,
YOU STAY WITH ME.
I NEED YOU,
AND YOU’RE THERE.
Yoel
EVERY DAY I KEPT ON SEARCHING,
LOSING HOPE AS WEEKS HAD PASSED,
WANTING YOU; DENYING YOU WERE GONE.
HERE YOU ARE, SO TORN AND WEAK.
YOU’RE FINALLY IN MY ARMS, AT LAST,
BUT HOW CAN YOU SURVIVE IF THIS GOES ON?
YOU’LL STAY WITH ME
I’LL TAKE YOU TO OUR VALLEY
STAY WITH ME
PUT JASMINE IN YOUR HAIR,
THERE BY THE KINNERET
I WILL HEAL YOU IN MY ARMS,
I’LL COME FOR YOU,
I NEED YOU.
PLEASE BE THERE.
Both
STAY WITH ME
WE’LL WATCH THE MORNING SUNRISE ,
STAY WITH ME
AND LIE HERE IN MY ARMS.
HOLD ON TIL TOMORROW
AND TOMORROW WILL BE OURS.
Yoel
I’LL COME FOR YOU.
Hannah
YOU’LL COME FOR ME.
Yoel
I NEED YOU!
Hannah
I NEED YOU.
Yoel Hannah
PLEASE BE THERE. I’LL BE THERE.
Song List:
Songs are both in present time and in flashbacks.
A published songwriter, Donfeld is a member of the Dramatist Guild, ASCAP, ALAP, and on the Board of the Academy for New Musical Theatre, Los Angeles.