The Tenth Man (Chayefsky play)

The Tenth Man is a play written by Paddy Chayefsky, first produced in 1959. It's a theatrical work that blends elements of Jewish folklore, psychoanalysis, and courtroom drama, set within the context of a struggling Orthodox synagogue in Long Island, New York.

The plot centers around a young, disillusioned lawyer, Arthur Landau, who is undergoing psychiatric treatment. He finds himself reluctantly drawn into an exorcism conducted by members of the synagogue. They believe a troubled young woman, Evelyn Foreman, is possessed by a dybbuk, a possessing spirit from Jewish mythology.

The play explores the conflict between modern rationalism, represented by Landau's skepticism and psychiatric explanations, and traditional religious belief, embodied by the rabbi and other members of the minyan (the quorum of ten men required for Jewish communal worship). As the exorcism proceeds, Landau is forced to confront his own beliefs and demons, and the audience is left to question the nature of faith, madness, and the possibility of supernatural forces.

Significant themes addressed in The Tenth Man include faith versus reason, the power of suggestion, the nature of mental illness, and the struggle for meaning and identity in a rapidly changing world. The play is also notable for its exploration of Jewish tradition and culture within a contemporary American setting. It achieved considerable success and was adapted into a film in 1988.