Germany, the mid-30s, the rise of the Third Reich, the persecuted Jews and homosexuals are the elements of Martin Sherman's electrifying Bent.
The stage is draped in black. Only a three-step stair holding some potted plants and a divan grace the barren space. First we meet Max (Michael Zlotnik). Moments later, his roommate, Rudy (Chris Buess), enters. Finally, after a bit, Wolfe (Bobby Schiefer), who had come home with Max, enters nude.
Wolf is a member of the Sturmabteilung corps, a same-sex group, which Hitler decided to get rid of. Wolf is discovered in Max and Rudy's apartment by two SS troopers (Eric Dowdy and Philip John) and is assassinated. This puts Max and Rudy in harm's way. Max's uncle Freddie (Walter Ritter) provides him with sage advice. Alas, it is advice that Max cannot follow.
Bent is both a traumatic and a fascinating look at one of the most terrible times in the history of mankind. This co-production of Diversionary and ion Theaters is directed by ion's Glenn Paris and Claudio Raygoza.
The audience is drawn into the lives of Max and Rudy immediately. We have only a few moments with Wolf before his tragic end. Following their travails, running from the SS, hiding in the woods with many others, to their eventual fate, is difficult to absorb.
There are moments. One is meeting up with the lovely Greta (Steven Lone), a drag queen who knows how to survive the repressive regime. In the camps, Jews wear a symbolic Star of David while the gays wear an inverted triangle. Max meets and becomes friends with Horst (Charlie Reuter).
Bent is not an easy play to watch but is well worthwhile as we empathize with these downtrodden people. Experiencing this piece of history on Diversionary's stage is a staggering experience. Seeing the symbology of the time (e.g., triangles and Stars of David) determine the fate of millions of people is shattering.
While definitely not holiday fare, Bent reveals both the good and evil in mankind and, just possibly, gives us hope that we, as a civilization, may have passed this period never to return again. Or, am I just being an optimist?
