The Catskill Chronicle

Story by Carol Montana, Photos by Stephen Lavelle and Carol Montana

SOUTH FALLSBURG, NY – The Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop (SCDW) is presenting a gripping and powerful play at the Rivoli Theatre this weekend and next.

Bent, written by Martin Sherman and directed by Constance Slater, tells the story of Max (Matt Meinsen), a homosexual man who leads a promiscuous lifestyle. The time is 1934 – the “Night of the Long Knives” or Nacht der langen Messer, more commonly known in Germany as "Röhm-Putsch." The three-day “Night” was Hitler’s purge of his Storm Troopers (SA). Coincidentally, because the head of the SA was gay, the purge led to the persecution of gays.

And, among all those in the concentration camps – Jews. Gypsies, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the mentally handicapped, intellectuals, vagrants, prostitutes, Freemasons and others — homosexuals were at the bottom of the heap, even among their fellow prisoners.

Fleeing from his Berlin home, with his lover, Rudy (Jim Pillmeier), Max is hunted down and sent to Dachau concentration camp, where he takes on the identity of a Jew – which he is not — rather than that of a homosexual, believing that being a Jew will keep him safer. 

At Dachau, Max develops an arms-length friendship with Horst (Rich Hotaling). Forbidden to touch, and barely even able to carry on a conversation, Horst teaches Max about survival, love and being true to oneself.

Featured performers also include Ed Berens as Greta, Phil Cappadora as Wolf, Tom DelFavero as a Nazi guard, Michael Herko as Uncle Freddie, and Joe Levner, Paul Popieneik and Paul Puerschner. 

In its original West-End of London production in 1979. the play starred Ian McKellan. And Richard Gere was featured in the original Broadway offering. The 1997 film of the same name featured an all-star cast of Clive Owen, Ian McKellan and Mick Jagger.

Closer to home, the entire SCDW ensemble gives powerful, emotional performances, and there is no lack of pathos and poignancy in this show. Matt Meinsen and Rich Hotaling are onstage for a great deal of the play, and are exceptionally touching and passionate in their roles, tackling a topic that is still controversial today, more than 75 years after the fact.

Bent is being performed on Friday and Saturday, June 4, 5, 11 and 12 at 8:00 p.m., and on Sunday, June 6 and 13 at 2:00 p.m. at the Rivoli Theatre, 5243 Main Street (Route 42) in South Fallsburg. Tickets are $15 for Adults, $12 for Senior Citizens and $7 for students with a valid ID. Both  Friday shows feature “Pay What You Can” for those unable to afford regular ticket prices.

This play contains extremely mature content and is not suitable for children or those disturbed by violence and/or explicit sexual language.

For more information call 436-5336 or log onto www.scdw.net. Or purchase in advance online @ www.ShowTix4U.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Bent is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., and is made possible by a gift from the Arthur A. Slater Memorial Fund.  

To view more photos, or to purchase prints from "Bent," visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.