Untold Philippine odyssey of a German Jewish boy finally revealed

Ralph Preiss (center) with his parents in the Philippines. CONTRIBUTED

LOS ANGELES — During World War II, after escaping Nazi Germany, 13-year-old Rudy Preissman finds refuge in the Philippines. However, when Japan invades the islands, his family and their friends face new challenges.

Inspired by an astonishing, little-known true story, this epic odyssey will unfold in Filipino American playwright Boni Alvarez’s new play “Mix-Mix: The Filipino Adventures of a German Jewish Boy.”

The work is set for its world premiere at Los Angeles Theatre Center and is presented by Playwrights’ Arena and Latino Theater Company. It will be helmed by Fil-Am Jon Lawrence Rivera, who is Playwrights’ Arena founding artistic director.

The play is based on the real-life story of Ralph J. Preiss, who, at age 93, currently lives in New York and is planning to fly to Los Angeles for opening night on May 18.

The show’s makers say it will be “grand in scale, exciting, touching, and at times hilarious.” The show is using “mix-mix,” a direct translation of the dessert halo-halo, as “a perfect metaphor for the mixed cultures that came together as the world contended with the horrors of World War II.”

Jews in the Philippines

Rivera gives context as to how there were Jews in the Philippines at that time period. “Philippine President Manuel Quezon saved over a thousand Jews with his ‘Open Door’ policy, even as most Jews were being refused entry around the world,” he says.

“The Philippines, a developing country, was able to get these people out. It’s a story you don’t hear much about, and we’re delighted that we’ll present it during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.”

The play came about when, in 2020, Preiss spoke at the United Nations at a special event in observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Olga Garay-English, an arts advocate and consultant based in Los Angeles, had been invited to watch the proceedings via Zoom. “I thought, this is a story that needs to be told,” she says. She then brought Rivera, Alvarez and Preiss together.

Adventure amid danger

Alavarez and Rivera have long been collaborating together to bring Alvarez’s plays to the stage. Previous stagings include “Apartment Living,” “American Adjacent,” “Bloodletting,” “Dallas Non-Stop” and “Ruby, Tragically Rotund.”

Filipino American actors Jill Remez, Myra Cris Ocenar and Giselle Tongi rehearsing for “Mix-Mix: The Filipino Adventures of a German Jewish Boy.” CONTRIBUTED

“Ralph has been a big part of the development process. Jon and Boni have the savvy and sophistication,” says Garay-English.

“The play is told from the point of view of the kids. Ralph and his Filipino friends think this is all a great, grand adventure despite the dangers of the Japanese Occupation.”

Playwright Boni Alvarez adds, “One would think the journey to get from Germany to the Philippines would be enough of a story in itself.

“Add to that spending four months in the jungle on a mountain hiding out from the Japanese, being put in charge of chaperoning a famous Filipina movie star, and meeting the President!”

Collaborators

The production stars Casey Adler, Alexis Camins and Angelita Esperanza as the three children, Rudy, Felizardo “Zar” Manzano and Ligaya “Mousie” Ybanez.

The rest of the cast includes Mark Doerr, Kennedy Kabasares, Myra Cris Ocenar, Jill Remez, Giselle Tongi and Mark McClain Wilson.

Tongi was most recently involved as a co-producer of Broadway’s “Here Lies Love,” a disco musical about Imelda Marcos.

Choreography is by Reggie Lee, fight choreography by Alvin Catacutan, sound design by Jesse Mandapat.

“Mix-Mix: The Filipino Adventures of a German Jewish Boy” has previews starting May 9, runs May 18-June 16, 2024 at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles.

Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.