Fear and Misery of the Third Reich

Written by Bertold Brecht
Presented by Dingle Community Theatre
Directed by Tom McLennan
Lantern Theatre
7th - 9th May 2013

Reviewed by Colin Serjent

A cast of twenty took part in a powerful and poignant play, also known as The Private Life of the Master Race, about the uprising of National Socialist Germany of the 1930's.

Brecht incorporated twenty four scenes in the play, most of them lasting five minutes or so, but not all the scenes will be performed by the Dingle Community Theatre at each of the venues they are visiting during May.

Each scene is introduced by singer/narrator Natalie Malone - her singing being pleasing on the ear.

One of the stand out scenes was Judicial Process, in which a judge (David Crosby) was in a state of high anxiety. He has asked a police inspector to clarify a case against a Jew. The Jew is innocent but the judge is forced to pass a verdict which suits the Third Reich. His stress is brought about by not knowing which verdict will achieve that.

Other scenes performed included A Case of Betrayal. A couple have grassed on one of their neighbours to the SS because they heard foreign broadcasts emanating from his house. They are upset that in being arrested his coat has been ripped!

One of the most disturbing scenes - among many - was Release, which perhaps should have been titled Paranoia Personified. A man has been released from a concentration camp and two of his old friends - a man and wife- are suspicious of him and his reasons for being sent there. They feel bespoiled by his presence in their company.

The lack of trust among each other was endemic of the whole Nazi regime. Control by fear.

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