Closing The World’s Stage Theatre Company’s ’14-’15 “History, Justice, Onward” season is Martin Sherman’s Bent, a powerful story of survival, self-identity and acceptance of love during the Third Reich. The play follows the journey of Max, a gay man living in 1930s Nazi Germany who is on the run from the Gestapo. After being captured and placed in a concentration camp, Max falls in love with fellow prisoner Horst, who shows him that humanity can be found even in the most inhumane world.
“It’s beautiful how even in the darkest depths of the human soul there is still a flicker of hope and humanity; the simple need to love and be loved. Bent touches on so many themes—love, homosexuality, solidarity, survival and more—that are presented in ways that hopefully focus on right vs. wrong, humanity vs. inhumanity and love vs. hate, rather than simply demonizing the unfamiliar or preaching from an overly myopic or clearly subjective perspective,” says Bent director Don Russell. “Sadly, the fear of the ‘other’ that permeates our society must be held in check if we are to avoid the slippery slope that leads to powerful political parties that capitalize on that very fear like the Nazi Party did in the ’30s.”
Artistic director of The World’s Stage, Gretchen Mahkorn, adds, “The play’s power and relevance to today’s audience lies in the fact that it deals with universal themes that everyone can relate to. That is what makes it such a moving production.” The 10-actor and the nine-person artistic crew have created not only the landscape of the era, but an emotional and psychological design for the show.
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Bent runs July 10-19 at Tenth Street Theatre, 628 N. 10th St. For more information and tickets, visit bent.bpt.me or twstheatre.com.
Theatre Happenings:
SUDS: The Musical, by Melinda Gilb, Steve Gunderson, Will Roberson and Bryan Scott, is a ’60s musical soap opera set in a laundromat that tells the story of Cindy and her visitations from guardian angels on her birthday. Show runs July 14-19 at UW-Whitewater’s Hicklin Studio Theatre (950 W. Main St.). For tickets, call 262-472-2222 or visit uww.edu/cac/theatre-dance/suds.
Richard Morris’ Thoroughly Modern Millie takes audiences back in time to the height of New York City’s Jazz Age. Sunset Playhouse invites you to come see the high-spirited musical romp featuring jazzy tunes, flappers and tap dancing at its Furlan Auditorium (800 Elm Grove Road) July 16-Aug. 9. For tickets, call 262-782-4430 or visit sunsetplayhouse.com.
Moon Over Buffalo by Ken Ludwig follows George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the ’50s who may just have one last shot at stardom. See this hilarious show directed by Zach Thomas Woods July 16-Aug. 1 at SummerStage of Delafield (W329 N846 County Highway C, Delafield). For tickets, call 262-337-1560 or visit summerstageofdelafield.org.
Racine Theatre Guild presents The Marvelous Wonderettes, a jukebox musical by Roger Bean about four girlfriends and the different paths their lives have taken between high school prom and their 10-year class reunion. Show runs July 17-26 at 2519 Northwestern Ave., Racine. For tickets, call 262-633-4218 or visit racinetheatre.org.
