NOW PLAYING: 73rd Avenue Theatre Company's BENT

The 73rd Avenue Theatre Presents

BENT

By Martin Sherman & Directed by Kiso Kyle   

The 73rd Avenue Theatre Company in Westminster, CO presents BENT June 21 to July 26. Max, a promiscuous gay man in 1930s Berlin, is at odds with his wealthy family because of his homosexuality. One evening the flat which he shares with his boyfriend, Rudy, is raided by the SS and a man Max has brought home is killed. After a time on the run, they are arrested by the Gestapo and put on a train headed for Dachau. After their capture Rudy implicates Max in their relationship as he is beaten to death and, in an attempt to protect himself, Max denies he knows Rudy. In the camp, Max befriends Horst, who shows him the dignity that lies in acknowledging what one is. They fall in love and become lovers through their words and the ending of the play is both touching and heart-breaking. 

Martin Sherman's worldwide hit play BENT took London by storm in 1979 when it was first performed by The Royal Court Theatre, with Ian McKellen as Max (a character written with the actor in mind). The play itself caused an uproar. Gays were arrested and interned at work camps prior to the genocide of Jews, gypsies, and handicapped, and continued to be imprisoned even after the fall of the Third Reich and liberation of the camps. The play BENT highlights the reason why - a largely ignored German law, Paragraph 175, making homosexuality a criminal offense, which Hitler reactivated and strengthened during his rise to power. The title of the play refers to the slang word "bent" used in some European countries to refer to homosexuals.   

The cast includes R.J Franklin as Uncle Freddie/Nazi Captain, Dirk Gaboriault as Horst, Kyle LaBoria as Max, Taylor Hayes as Rudy, Ash VanScoyoc as Greta and Jacob d'Armand as Wolf. 

The 73rd Avenue Theatre Company presents BENT June 21 to July 26 with shows on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. The 73rd Avenue Theater Company is located at 7287 Lowell Blvd. in Westminster.  For tickets of more information, contact the box office at 720-276-6936 or visit them online at www.the73rdavenuetheatrecompany.com.    

Photo credit - Kiso Kyle

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