Original Works Series Reading: The Names by Paul Lewis

The Names

by Paul Lewis

Performed by Stolen Shakespeare Guild (March 20)

1943-45. Martina Visconti, a Jewish opera star living in Milan, has remained in Italy during the years of Mussolini, and then the German occupation, in hopes of protecting her impetuous younger sister, Giulia, who has joined the Resistance. Names are everywhere during the years of occupation— the aliases common to times of war; the names which populate the Periodic Table of the Elements; the names of friends and lovers inked onto bare skin. Meanwhile, Joey Rosen, an American GI in an embattled infantry unit south of Rome, dreams of reaching Milan so that he can finally meet his operatic idol. Giulia is captured by the Gestapo. The Nazis offered to spare Giulia's life if Martina agrees to perform a live broadcast on a German propaganda station, thus marking her a Nazi collaborator. Giulia then vanishes from sight; Martina doesn’t know if she’s dead or alive. Joey Rosen is killed outside of Rome. At the war’s end, his Army buddy Sam reaches Milan and takes Martina to the French border, to safety. Giulia is waiting for her there. They decide to remain in Italy together to face uncertain justice — to say, presente when their names are called, and to tell their stories.