PLOT

Act 1

The early 1960’s, on an ocean liner. Watching over the scene is a chorus who sometimes take part as prisoners,
passengers or officers, and sometimes are merely onlookers from another time, as are we. 
Scene one
A German diplomat, Walter, and his young wife, Lisa, are on the way to Brazil where he will take up a diplomatic post.
Suddenly she sees a fellow passenger who she thinks she recognises, except that she knows that person to be dead.
Under the shock of this encounter, she reveals to her husband for the first time that she was an SS overseer in Auschwitz.
The revelation is a crisis for both of them.
Scene two
In the camp, we learn that the Passenger is Martha, a Polish prisoner who Lisa Franz, the overseer, has marked out as
someone who could help control the other prisoners.
Scene three
In the female barracks, we meet women from every corner of Europe brought together in this cosmopolitan hell.
A suspected Russian partisan, Katia arrives from a brutal interrogation, and the Kapo finds a note in Polish which
may implicate her. Lisa orders Martha to read it, and Martha coolly renders it as a love letter - as if to her own fiancée,
Tadeusz, who she believes is also a prisoner. Back on the boat, Lisa and Walter try to come to terms with this new
background to their relationship.

Act 2

Scene four
Under Lisa’s supervision the women are sorting belongings looted from the prisoners. An officer arrives demanding
a violin. The Governor has ordered a concert at which his favourite waltz should be played by one of the prisoners.
Lisa produces a violin, but the officer says he will send the prisoner himself to collect it. The prisoner is Tadeusz. He
and Martha have a brief scene of recognition before Lisa interrupts them. She allows them to continue their contact,
hoping to capitalise on this “kindness” later.
Scene five
Lisa confronts Tadeusz in the workshop where he produces silver ornaments to order for the SS Officers. One is
a Madonna which Lisa recognises as Martha. Lisa offers Tadeusz the chance to meet Martha, but Tadeusz refuses.
He does not want to be in Lisa’s debt.
Scene six
In the female barracks it is Martha’s birthday. She sings a song about being in love with death. Lisa interrupts and tries
to goad Martha by telling her that Tadeusz turned down a chance to see her, but Martha remains unmoved: if that is
what Tadeusz decided, he was right to do so! Yvette tries to teach an old Russian woman French, and Katia sings
about Russia. Suddenly guards burst in: it is selection time. A list of numbers is broadcast, and one by one various prisoners
are taken away. Lisa tells Martha that it is not her turn yet: she will arrange for her to witness Tadeusz’s concert.
Scene seven
Back on the boat Lisa and Walter have come to a new understanding: even if the Passenger is Martha, they are determined
to brazen it out, and decide to join the dancing in the Salon. Lisa is however horrified when The Passenger
approaches the band, apparently to make a request, and they start to play the Governor’s Waltz.
Scene eight
Back in the camp it is time for the concert, and all the officers and prisoners are assembled. Tadeusz, however, does
not play the waltz, but something else. The scene breaks up in uproar as his violin is smashed and he is dragged off
to the death cells. In the last scene, we are left with Martha and her memories, and her longing that all who suffered
should not be forgotten.