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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of music begins to play at the beginning of Indecent?

2. Nakhmen says this play is written by a Jew who hates who?

3. When does Paula Vogel receive a call from Rebecca Taichman?

4. Who does Sholem address at the end of this section?

5. When was The God of Vengeance written?

Short Essay Questions

1. What important resources beyond the original play, trial information, and Taichman’s thesis was used to inspire Vogel?

2. What do most of the men believe is the role of Jewish theater?

3. Why had Rebecca Taichman reached out to Paula Vogel?

4. Why are many of the men upset and horrified by what Yekel does with the Torah scroll?

5. How does the playwright early on show why the play is titled Indecent?

6. Sholem compares himself to one of the prostitutes in his play. When and why does he do this?

7. How do Madje and Sholem respond differently to the future of Sholem’s play in the beginning of the play?

8. When had Paula Vogel first heard about Rebecca Taichman?

9. Where does Indecent take place?

10. How is Madje’s line, “Teach me. Take me. I want to taste you” significant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Officer Bailie is instructed to allow The God of Vengeance performance to be completed before he arrests the cast. Why might this be? Why does he not arrest them earlier? Why is there a police presence and an arrest on Broadway but not in any previous American performances?

Essay Topic 2

Multiple times throughout the play characters look down upon traditional religious Jews. What might be the reason for this? How do the characters who are Jewish respond to this type of attitude? Would you consider the secular Jews in this play to be anti-Semitic as was feared by Mr. Peretz? Why or why not? Do the Jewish characters in this play seem to be happy to rid themselves of their tradition? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The play begins with the troupe rising from the ground, pouring sawdust from their clothes. What is this meant to represent? What tone does this set for the play ahead? What does this foreshadow? Is this an effective way to prepare the audience for future events? Why or why not?

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