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Goodbye Marianne

A true story of hope in a time of terror, this play won the Jessie Award of Canada after a successful premiere by the Carousel Theatre in Vancouver.

  • Full Length Play
  • Drama
  • 55 minutes

  • Time Period: 1930s
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult, Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Flexible Set

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, College Theatre / Student, High School/Secondary

  • Accolades:
  • Jessie Award (Canada)
Set in Germany in the days immediately following the Nazi-fostered Night of the Broken Glass (November 9, 1938), Goodbye Marianne is powerful theatre based on the author's childhood experience in Nazi Germany. 

Young Marianne Kohn arrives a few minutes late to school one morning to find that Jewish students are no longer permitted to attend. On her way home, she makes an unexpected friend, Ernst. When Ernst discovers Marianne is Jewish--and she finds that he belongs to the Hitler Youth-- they quarrel bitterly, leaving Marianne with little hope for the friendship. 

Though Mrs. Kohn wants to shield and protect Marianne from the truth of the danger they are in, the time for honesty has come. She reveals to Marianne that her father is not away on business as Marianne has been led to believe. He is actually hiding from the Gestapo after escaping a Nazi prison camp where he was nearly beaten to death. Marianne's escape to Canada is arranged through the Kindertransporte underground rescue mission. As she leaves, Ernst gives her a gift that renews her hope for the future and helps her see that all people are not the same. 

Premiere Production: Premiered at the Carousel Theatre in Vancouver.
  • Casting: 2M, 2F, 3M or F
  • Casting Attributes: Reduced casting (Doubling Possible)

Name Price
Goodbye Marianne Script Order Now

Set in Germany in the days immediately following the Nazi-fostered Night of the Broken Glass (November 9, 1938), Goodbye Marianne is powerful theatre based on the author's childhood experience in Nazi Germany. Young Marianne Kohn arrives a few minutes late to school one morning to find that Jewish students are no longer permitted to attend. On her way home, she makes an unexpected friend, Ernst. When Ernst discovers Marianne is Jewisheand she finds that he belongs to the Hitler Youthethey quarrel bitterly, leaving Marianne with little hope for the friendship. Though Mrs. Kohn wants to shield and protect Marianne from the truth of the danger they are in, the time for honesty has come. She reveals to Marianne that her father is not away on business as Marianne has been led to believe. He is actually hiding from the Gestapo after escaping a Nazi prison camp where he was nearly beaten to death. Marianne's escape to Canada is arranged through the Kindertransporte underground rescue mission. As she leaves, Ernst gives her a gift that renews her hope for the future and helps her see that all people are not the same. Flexible set. Suitable for touring. 1930's European costumes. Approximate running time: 55 minutes.

$19.95