"DelikateSSen,"A Groundbreaking New Film and Play
A riveting drama unlike anything you have ever seen before!
Testimonials
Testimonials
It is a fine piece and if you have a reading of it in the city at some point I would be very interested in attending.
You are a fine writer and the play is original and quite compelling.
Matthew Penn - Director and producer of theatre and over one hundred fifty prime time TV dramas including NYPD Blue, Law and Order, The Sopranos and House to name a few.
Wonderful! Couldn't put it down. Congrats!
Wayne Duvall - Hollywood and Broadway Stage Actor
Very Exciting Play!
Mark Medoff
Stage and Screenwriter
Tony Winner "Children of a Lesser God
DeliKateSSen is a riveting, poignant play about the effects of the Holocaust on survivors. Although the message of the play is about the need for reconciliation between Jews and Germans, the solution is never that simplistic. Richard Atkins' play is an important contribution to the canon of Holocaust drama, especially with regard to the issue of how the trauma of the Holocaust continually pervades the lives of survivors and their families.
Dr. Gene Plunka, Professor of English, University of Memphis
Ph.D., University of Maryland
Published many books on with an emphasis on Holocaust Theater
If you cannot capture someone in the first three pages, forget about it. Atkins got me on page 1. I cannot wait to find out who Reinhardt, Yaakov, Eisler, Schneider really are. The motivation of David is compelling as hell and the current familial problems are intensely pressurizing. This idea of nothing seeming what it actually is...is very good. Congratulations. Atkins is a helluva writer.
John Hertzler - Stage and Screen Actor Martok on Star Trek
Atkins characters are fleshed and his story is strong as steel.
Si Osborne - Joseph Jefferson Award For Acting
Performed at Steppenwolf, Centerstage, Actors Theatre of Louisville and many more!
Read a goodly portion of Richard's new script and believe he has a real shot at successful play on his hands.
Anthony Pantaleoni - Attorney
Director of Counsel and Partner at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
Member of U.S. Fund for UNICEF'S Board of Directors
If Atkins isn't careful, he's going to be lifted,
nay, VAULTED onto the list of leading
American Playwrights!!
Congratulations.
Alan J. Wendl - Stage and Screen Actor
Sounds like a very interesting play!
Katrin Himmler - Author
The Himmler Brothers
A Germany Family History
Pan Books
Really like the script. I read the play and it certainly was intense. I really did not expect it to wind up the way it d it was VERY intense and powerful and I really read it through at one sitting to find out what happened and the idea of hate carrying over and harming even the next generation is a very complex one. A wonderful play.
Elayne LeTraunik
Theater Producer in Chicago
Just finished reading the play. Wonderful work. I couldn't put it down for a moment. Compelling. The characters are so well developed and real. I cared so much for the Brothers. Atkins has created something of great value here. As I read it I kept thinking how easily it could be turned into a film. The music is perfect! Love the addition of the Rabbi's bio. Nice touch. Straight to NY and then to LA. It's so very relevant. It will transition to film beautifully. I will be thinking about it for quite .
Lynn O'Dell - Director and Stage Actress
'Enjoy' is not the right word for my response-- appreciate, yes----the complexity of the characters, the appropriate set, the quality of the acting, the underlying pathos -- all struck me and have stayed with me most of last night. Thank you for your work-- it is both good and important.
Rabbi Min Kantrowitz
The characters are very believable and authentic. I laughed a few times, actually hearing the voices in my head. The plot raises issues of individual and collective responsibility that become more intense once you put them in the Holocaust context which highlights the sensitivities we have and how they influence our values, sense of justice and mercy, revenge and forgiveness, individual and collective responsibility and guilt. I liked how the play addressed the issue of family loyalty and how, at times, overrules a sense of what's right and wrong. I thought it was very powerful, although tragic. As a rabbi and someone who teaches ethics and theology, I liked the issues raised. I'm sure it will cause a lot of debate, which is the best one can hope for from a good play.
Rabbi Ute Steyer - Research and Program Manager - The Jewish Theological Seminary - Center for Pastoral Education - NYC
Richard Atkins’s powerful play, , looks deeply at the Holocaust legacy of two families, Jewish and German. The play challenges us to shine the light on hate without falling into cycles of violence. As ADL recognized over 100 years ago, stopping anti-Semitism is fundamentally linked to securing justice and fair treatment for all.
Suki Halevi, New Mexico Regional Director
Anti-Defamation League
The play opened my eyes to the continued suffering of Jewish fam-
affected by the Holocaust long after 1945. With its strong cast,
excellent direction, believable set and skillful use of graphics, the
April 2015 production by Albuquerque's Adobe Theater was, for us,
an instructive and profoundly moving experience.
Hugh Witmeyer - Professor Emeritus at UNM
American, British and Irish Literary Studies
Oh my goodness, so wonderfully heartbreaking and a delight to revisit these characters. The ending I find very satisfying where no one is truly let off the hook yet I still felt hopeful. I love it!
Cory Krebsbach - Actor - Chicago
"" challenges you to reexamine the
questions: Who is good? Who is evil? How can good people be seduced into committing heinous crimes? The play is also, extremely, morally challenging. And that's a good thing.
Rabbi Harry Rosenfeld
Congregation Albert - Albuquerque
What an enormously powerful, poignant and meaningful work. The love and devotion of the family members spoke so clearly and strongly, quite heartbreaking. And the warning of the danger of living in the past, and not moving forward...profound. Truly, Atkins is blessed with an amazing gift.
Stephanie Monday - Actress
Recently starred in "Aunt Raini" portraying Leni Riefenstahl
Directed by Mark Medoff
I look back at my recent attendance at the reading of the play Delikatessen in Chicago and it takes me back to my teen years. My father was a liberator of one of the death camps in Germany but he never talked about what he did or saw. I was 16 and I bought my first car, a VW Beatle. Well, my dad had a fit. Like a line in the play, my dad would say the only good German is a dead one. He had a real hard time with me buying that Nazi Vehicle. I could relate to both brothers David and Yossi as they tried to stop the German Delikatessen from opening across the street from their own business. I felt like I was there and part of the family. What Daniel did to help "eliminate the threat" to his father and their business was riveting and that is what great plots are based on. The Holocaust may have happened over 60 years ago, but families such as my own, live with the remnants every day. This play brings it home and makes you think. It will make you laugh, cry and draw you into the characters' lives. Kudos to author Richard Atkins for the wonderful insight into a small piece of history through the eyes of the second generation.
Alan Gerstner
President of Travel Doctor Consulting - Chicago
I found the historical verisimilitude of Richard Atkins’ drama DelikateSSen and was pleased to read the part of Karl in Chicago for Genesis Theatrical Productions. Atkins’ play is a chilling yet ultimately hopeful vision of the aftereffects of the horrors of Nazism, carried as emotional baggage by survivors well into the 1970s and even to this day. I’m predicting the playwright will find increasing support for full productions of this worthy addition to stories which help us keep in mind the tragic and long-lasting consequences of man’s inhumanity to man.
Bernard Rice - Actor
Member of Actor's Equity
I was born in New York City, and went to many Broadway productions, throughout my teenage years and early adulthood. Since moving to Albuquerque, I find the theater scene to be very enjoyable and would like to share some thoughts about Richard Atkins' play: "." It was a fantastic show, very well-written and presented with a terrific cast. I spoke to other people in the audience, and everyone truly enjoyed themselves immensely. I have also seen Mr. Atkins’ play “The Men of Mah Jongg” which was an excellent production and eagerly await more of Mr. Atkins' productions.
Jeri Friedman, retiree
The play is perfectly dosed, involving every generation and will move the whole public. I want to thank you for putting so much history in so few lines. The performance of this play should be visited by every school that takes future generations seriously.
Helena Daelman - Journalist-writer
Ayurvedic Practioner "Amitabha"
Belgium
What an exciting, ambitious work! And what a great role to play Karl.
Evan Thompson - Stage Actor
The play is very compelling. I am so happy to have had the privilege of reading this powerful piece. Congratulations.
Joanne Camp Sobel - actress and acting coach
I have to say I think this play is a winner. I love the twists. Very inventive. I also loved the ending. There is a really important message here that needs to be said. Write on! Nice work.
Pete Parkin - Playwright, Director, Set and Lighting Designer
Holy #$%&! Where the hell did that come from?! That was pretty intense. What a piece!
Gary Telles/Radio talent and actor
Atkins' weaves characters and plot with mastery and agility.
Richard Block - One of the Founders of the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Stage Director, Radio Talk Show Host
I think the play is compelling and provocative. I couldn't wait to find out what happens and got up at 3:00 am to finish it. I am reminded of Arthur Miller's The Price, which is a good thing. The storytelling is strong and builds to the final scene. After re-reading the play...
I still think it is gripping and provocative. It is also well-made in the tradition of Lillian Hellman's better works.
Jason Rubin - Ph.D., NYU
Retired Professor, Director, Set Designer
I think the play is strong, powerful, emotional, believable, tragic, parts uplifting, but parts very sad, and very thought-provoking. I love that Viktor Frankl gets quoted and, of course, the Rabbi's great speech.
Sheila Floer - Psycho-therapist
Friedland, Germany
I just finished reading the play, and I am still deep in thought. This is so well written and poignant. Also, the theme is hauntingly beautiful. I want to be sitting in the audience on opening night in NYC. Mr. Atkins deserves praise and recognition for this beautiful play.
Lisa Quick, Business Owner
New Mexico
Holy Hell! What a pressure cooker of a script! Nicely done! It's really going to be an intense, immersive experience.
Kevin McGuire - Director & Stage Actor
The acting was The message should touch every heart... Imagine what a wonderful world this would if hate and prejudice could vanish Our friends loved the play as well. They will be back.
Chris Demijohn - Working Professional Stylist
It was heavy and touched on many delicate subjects. But the play was "riveting" in holding the audience's attention and the messages are . I had an in my working career with GE in Michigan. GE sold the manufacturing plant I was working at to Hitachi (a Japanese firm). When we tried to hold employee meetings to discuss the in owners we received an "unexpected" backlash of anger from some of the WWII vets working in the plant. Their position was they would not only never "forget" but would never "forgive" the Japanese for the atrocities committed against captured US troops in WWII. We had a significant problem for a period of time as Hitachi's Japanese personnel appeared on the scene. As so often happens "time" soothed the pains of many of the vets., This was a rural farming community where nationalism ran deep and right across the street from the plant was a VFW Post with a large granite obelisk listing the names of dozens of in WWII vets killed in the war. I am curious. How long did Mr. Atkins anguish before coming up with the phrase '..to perform '. Very creative. By the way, Mr. Atkins' acting was superb. Worthy of an Oscar by anyone's standards. And the supporting cast were equally as good. I am amazed at the quality of talent you are able to find locally. Or maybe its a matter of your director molding the talent at hand. Kudos to Cheryl Atkins as well. The play is deserving of national recognition in my estimation. Good luck in South Carolina and beyond. Will any of the New Mexico cast members perform in South Carolina?
Joe Demijohn - Retired - New Mexico
I started reading "" last night and could not stop. After I finished, I felt very strange. Very sad, but I'm not sure; just different. I told a co-worker the next day that I felt depressed because I knew these things truly did happen. We forget sometimes how these traumas, any traumas, affect people throughout their lives and how everyone deals with them differently. It also made me think of myself and how I dwell on things and hold my own little grudges and thought maybe it's time to let go of those things. It's funny how something comes along at just the right time to hit you in a way you least expect. So yes, it also made me think of forgiveness. Very few people me this way. Pretty powerful writing.
Leticia Chavez - Radiology Technician
A well and play. So much so that in some parts, you really feel the emotions of the characters, drawing you more into the story. Mr. Atkins is very brave to write as it brings up extremely sensitive issues of a very real past, and shows good morals throughout. The play demonstrates that fear of a past event can turn us against an innocent generation, victimizing them almost as much as the original victims and shows the lengths people are willing to go to protect the ones they love.
An absolute play.
Will stay with you for a long while after seeing it."
Charlotte Gardner, Drama Student, UK