Tom Stoppard’s ‘Leopoldstadt’ confronts tough questions about how we deal with the past

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Tom Stoppard’s final play, “Leopoldstadt,” has its Chicago-area premiere at Writers Theatre, depicting four generations of a Jewish family in early 20th-century Vienna as they face cultural identity, assimilation, and the rise of fascism leading to the Holocaust. The production highlights the enduring complexities of memory and heritage, inviting audiences to reflect on the impact of historical trauma and the responsibility to remember.

Tom Stoppard’s final play, “Leopoldstadt,” makes its Chicago-area premiere at Writers Theatre in Glencoe, offering a sweeping exploration of Jewish identity and history in early 20th-century Vienna. Directed by Stoppard collaborator Carey Perloff, the production features a large ensemble cast portraying four generations of an affluent Jewish family navigating the turbulent political and social currents leading up to and during the Holocaust.

The play begins in 1899, introducing Hermann Merz, a successful Jewish businessman, his Catholic wife Gretl, and an extended family whose complex relationships reflect the intricacies of assimilation and cultural identity. Set against the backdrop of Vienna’s cultural heyday, the characters engage in discussions about prominent Jewish figures such as Sigmund Freud, Arthur Schnitzler, and Theodor Herzl, highlighting the intellectual and political debates within the community. The narrative openly grapples with questions about assimilation, belonging, and the tensions between pride in heritage and the desire for acceptance.

As the story advances to 1924, the interwar period reveals a Vienna caught between democratic socialist governance and the impending threat of rising fascism. Humorous moments punctuate the drama, such as a subplot involving debates over a newborn’s circumcision, reflecting the intersection of tradition and modernity. By 1938, the atmosphere darkens as the characters confront the reality of Nazi persecution, culminating in the harrowing events of Kristallnacht, the “Night of Broken Glass.” The play portrays this period with a focus on historical circumstance rather than deep individual character studies, emphasizing how larger forces shape personal destinies.

The title “Leopoldstadt” refers to the historic Jewish district of Vienna and serves as a symbolic anchor for the play’s themes. Stoppard also includes a character named Leo, a fictionalized version of his younger self, who appears in a final scene set in 1955. This scene, featuring Leo’s visit to Vienna and reunion with surviving relatives, confronts the complexities of memory and survivor’s guilt. The characters wrestle with conflicting perspectives on history, family legacy, and the responsibility to remember. Leo, detached from the painful past, initially treats his Jewish identity as an “exotic fact,” prompting tension and reflection among the older generation.

The final sequence challenges audiences to consider how the past should be acknowledged and honored, exploring themes of loss, remembrance, and the enduring impact of trauma. While some moments in this scene lean toward overt interpretation, the play ultimately delivers a poignant meditation on memory and identity, underscored by a quiet but powerful emotional resonance.

“Leopoldstadt” runs through Aug. 9 at the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre. Tickets range from $55 to $125, and the production runs approximately two hours and 45 minutes including one intermission.

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