Did you know innocent people were "forcibly tattooed... for the identification system of them in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust?" So, "In modern times the association of tattoos with Nazi concentration camps and the Holocaust" has caused some Jewish people to be against the practice of tattooing of any kind (http://en.wikipedia.org 2010.)

The more folks expose themselves to truths about different cultures and religions than their own, and can understand where they are coming from, the better the chances of peace and harmony in a world of too many minds misunderstood and divided.

"The Invasion of Skokie" is a play partially intended to be a comedy about a Jewish family during the 1970s. Whopping whacked-in-the-head-Nazis may have said or say laughing gas should have been filled into the theatre since not all the punch lines spit out by the characters were laughed at by the audience of mostly middle-aged-men and ladies.

However, in all fairness the production had such non-comical heavy-weight themes with one being about the Holocaust, which is not to be taken shallowly due to its extreme emotional costs on Jewish human beings. The "Invasion of Skokie's" main character, Morry, played by Mick Weber, executed quite well how the Jewish have been hit by the evil blows of the Nazis, and how it can, understandably, still be painful for them to think of the unjustifiable torturous acts and killings of grandparents, moms, dads, sons, daughters, siblings...

To elaborate, the play was set during the time the Nazis of Illinois, in real life, beat the Village of Skokie in the U.S Supreme Court when they had fought to march in the town to throw their political existence in the face of victims and survivors of the Holocaust (which comprised of 40 percent of the residents there!) As one could imagine, some Jewish people around while the fight had taken place had said "This isn't just a free speech matter. This is an assault on a community," what a nightmare (Petlicki M. Chicago Dramatists marches into 'Invasion of Skokie' Pioneer Local. 2010 Aug 26.) Since Chicago Dramatists Network Playwright of "The Invasion of Skokie," Steven Peterson, had his deceased father and a lot of his friends as victims of the march it was something he wanted to share (Petlicki M. Chicago Dramatists marches into 'Invasion of Skokie' Pioneer Local. 2010 Aug 26.)

An additional theme of "The Invasion of Skokie" is about a Jewish couple (Morry and Sylvia ) struggling to keep their daughter (Debbie) from marrying a man (Charlie) from another faith, even though he has been tight with the family ever since he was a young child. But, Sylva's and the family's close friend (Uncle Howie's) reactions toward the Nazi's march and the possible walking of a gentile into their unit, compared to Morry's, was mild. That is, Morry firmly believes in using violence against the Nazis who are to invade Skokie, whereas, Sylvia, Debbie and Charlie are adamantly opposed to resorting to measures that dangerous, radical and wild.

The Director, Richard Perez, as well as all of the characters played by Mick Weber (Morry Kaplan), Cindy Gold (Sylvia Kaplan), Tracey Kaplan (Debbie Kaplan), Michael Joseph Mitchell (Howie Green) and Bradford R. Lund (Charlie Lindal) have respectable credentials, and the acting seemed convincing thru and thru, especially Mick Weber's, while Steven Peterson's writing was not to my liking until 10 minutes or so into the production.

To close the curtain on the review, I will lastly say there is a tremendous throw-you-off-your-rocker part in the play which combined with its other themes, I did not mention, have the depth and importance for you to excitingly argue back and forth with someone about them.

"The Invasion of Skokie" (a finalist in the Dorothy Silver Playwriting Competition) plays at the Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W.Chicago Ave. Chicago, IL. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, September 15th-October 10th. $32 Tickets; www.chicagodramatists.org; (312) 633-0630.

Above photo:

(L-R) Bradford Lund, Mick Weber, and Michael Joseph Mitchell star in Steven Peterson's world premiere production of The Invasion of Skokie, at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., running 09/2-10/10/10, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. Photo by Jeff Pines.