charlottie_23's review
3.0
It was good, and I did enjoy it, the message it gave was clearly there throughout the play, how gay people struggled with their identity, but I felt that I was disappointed with the ending...
calamitywindpetal's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Death, Torture, Homophobia, and Antisemitism
evfav's review
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A very subjective rating. Hard hitting and emotional, but I sometimes struggled with comprehension and connection, probably just because I'm not practiced in reading plays. Max is a scary and sad character. It was a good historical fiction that made me aware of new things about the work camps.
heresthepencil's review
5.0
rep: gay mc, gay characters
tw: homophobia, concentration camp, torture, murder, forced necrophilia & pedophilia, suicide
i don't know what i was expecting when i started reading a play abt gay men during the holocaust... i'm just glad i didn't see this live & instead cried for an hour in my empty living room
tw: homophobia, concentration camp, torture, murder, forced necrophilia & pedophilia, suicide
i don't know what i was expecting when i started reading a play abt gay men during the holocaust... i'm just glad i didn't see this live & instead cried for an hour in my empty living room
gabieowleyess's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars out of 5.
I enjoyed it. I'm a little hesitant on my rating because I want to analyze it in my class before I make a solid rating. But, as of right now, I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed it. I'm a little hesitant on my rating because I want to analyze it in my class before I make a solid rating. But, as of right now, I enjoyed it.
libraryofcalliope's review against another edition
5.0
This play follows the persecution of gay men in Nazi Germany, focusing on one man, Max, and his experiences. As you can imagine it is an intense play and thus trigger warnings apply. I read this play in near enough one sitting this afternoon. It is harrowing. The story follows Max, originally played by Ian McKellen, in the aftermath of the Night of the Long Knives wherein Max goes on the run but is eventually captured imprisoned in a camp. Max desperately wants to avoid being assigned the pink triangle which one of the other prisoners claims is “the worst of all” and so pretends to be Jewish instead. He builds a relationship with the other prisoner and the themes of shame and self acceptance are married together with extreme trauma and violence. It is not that pretending to be Jewish gives him a better experience but it depicts a reflection of the social stigma even amongst the oppressed and the shame and self hatred felt by Max himself. It was written in 1979 by Martin Sherman, who himself was both gay and Jewish, and this play was the Tony nominee for best play in 1980 and it’s easy to see why. The connection portrayed between Max and Horst, the other prisoner, is so powerful, even when written, I cannot imagine seeing this play staged. The final scene is so well written that the emotions can choke you. Definitely worth reading but it is a very somber and desperately sad read.
averyarnold's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Slavery, Racism, Death, and Murder
chaseledin's review
5.0
A magnificent, and sentimental, work surrounding sexuality and love during WWII. Really spectacular is what I will leave it at! And a favorite.