Zeitgeist Stage
is honoring the 35th anniversary of the Holocaust play, BENT, Martin
Sherman’s frightening, ultimately redemptive play about the gay men who
perished, along with the Jews and gypsies, in Hitler’s concentration camps.
Director David Miller’s production (running through Oct. 11th)
features two powerful performances by Victor L. Shopov and Brooks Reeves as the
imprisoned men who will be each other’s salvation.
Zeitgeist is
known for its tightly knit, compact productions in the Black Box at the BCA.
For BENT they have moved to the comparatively spacious Plaza theater, next to
the box space but with the move come some complications. The first scene in
Max’s living room makes it seem like a sprawling penthouse. Just using the
imaginary bathroom takes precious seconds to get offstage. And placing the
decadent, cross-dressed cabaret chanteuse (whom Miller uses for running
satirical effect) in front of the apartment space puts “Greta” much too close to
the audience.
Some opening
weekend jitters distracted from the story early on but by the time Shopov and
Reeves are the sole players on stage (except for the Nazi guards), the horror
and the beauty of their relationship carries the play toward its chilling conclusion.
A lovely performance by Robert Bonotto, as Max’s closeted uncle is one of the
pleasures of Miller’s productions. Mikey DiLoreto, too, scores points as the
dancer who, like the uncle, thinks the Nazis won’t come for him.
Thomas Grenon is
terrifying as the sadistic lieutenant who forces Max to perform unspeakable
acts in order to save himself. Shopov’s transformation, in response to Reeves’
luminous humanity, more than makes up for the small production problems. This
is a major play which deserves to be seen. The German phrase, “Nie wieder”
meaning “never again” serves as both apology and pledge but we know full well
that it has happened again, all over the world.
