Taking Sides

Local Arts Reviews

TAKING SIDES: Study War Some More

Dougherty Arts Center, through Sept. 23. Running Time: 2 hrs

Strange how things resonate. How just a few weeks ago, this Ronald Harwood story -- about the interrogation of a world-class conductor and possible Nazi sympathizer during WWII -- wouldn't have seemed at all relevant to the world's headlines. That it does now may add or detract from your enjoyment of ActAustin and Magnolia Theatre Company's production of Taking Sides, depending on your philosophy.

The conductor we're concerned with is Wilhelm Furtwangler. (Check your history books: This is based on actual events.) Furtwangler, German-born and -bred, was considered one of the world's top conductors in the early 1930s. He held high the torch of his country's achievements in the musical arts; and if he continued to hold that torch high after Hitler's factions came to power, was it only because he believed that music was beyond the fascist horrors he evidently disagreed with? If he continued leading the Berlin Philharmonic on tour, wasn't he showing the world that Germany could transcend its Nazi rulers by continuing to produce glorious, life-affirming music? Jah? Or was this man simply a highbrow shill aiding and abetting a bunch of genocidal thugs for his own selfish reasons?

That's the question, of course. A question -- among many others -- put to Furtwangler by Major Steve Arnold, the man assigned to interrogate him, to see if he should stand trial for having assisted the recently vanquished enemy. With his military haircut and fit-for-combat form, Lawrence Coop plays the major wonderfully well. I know this, because I personally know a man so like this aggressively narrow-minded, self-congratulating lowbrow joe that the similarities are jarring. And this is precisely how C. C. would move, talk, smile, and scheme. And, as C. C. would, this major (who insists with gung-ho humility that everybody go by their first name, regardless of rank or status), this Steve, also makes some damned good points against the conductor. Which is his goal, of course. Mr. Common Man wants real bad to bring down Herr High & Mighty.

Furtwangler is played by Art Peden, the single most imposing presence I've seen onstage since Greg Gondek donned 60 pounds of ceiling-high Lobster Man costume for Cowboy Mouth. Tall, craggy, as creepy as Lurch's older brother, he also provides a fine Furtwangler, though not required to attempt much other than a sort of imperious silence or a loud and heavily accented taking of umbrage.

The other players are Randy McGibeny as a sympathetic Jewish officer (a man whose passion for music was originally sparked by attending a Furtwangler concert in his childhood) and Major Arnold's dutiful German secretary (subtly portrayed by Sara Larson). Rebecca Robinson does a sharp, emotion-filled turn as the widow of a Jewish pianist who Furtwangler once helped. Joel Crabtree has the sweet role of Helmut Rode, one of a series of Berlin Philharmonic members that the relentless major has grilled. Rode is the only hint of comic relief in this sometimes static drama, and Crabtree imbues the artiste with a sense of foppish exuberance.

Director Jerry Pilato has crafted a solid show for ActAustin and the Magnolia Theatre Company, especially in not overdoing character movements to compensate for the slowly unfolding pace. The entrances and exits could use a bit more scrutiny -- they seemed too abrupt at times -- but the extension of some of those moves off the stage and then across the audience's front row, well, that could use nothing but kudos: It was a deliberate and theatrical action that somehow made the show seem less theatrical, that made this reviewer consider the characters (and thus the situation) beyond the decorated stage's rectangle of light. Like the way in which the wartime setting now happens, unfortunately, to resonate with events upon the world's bigger stage.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

Support the Chronicle  

READ MORE
More Arts Reviews
All the Way
All the Way
In Zach Theatre's staging of this epic political drama about LBJ, the fight for civil rights feels particularly urgent

Robert Faires, May 1, 2015

Random Acts of Magic
Random Acts of Magic
The 2015 batch of Out of Ink 10-minute plays is a satisfying buffet of silliness and thoughtfulness

Elizabeth Cobbe, May 1, 2015

More by Wayne Alan Brenner
Visual Art Review: Stuffed Animal Rescue Foundation’s “The Still Life”
Visual Art Review: Stuffed Animal Rescue Foundation’s “The Still Life”
This charming exhibit rehabilitates neglected stuffies, then puts them to work creating art

March 22, 2024

Spider Sculptures, Gore Feasts, and More Arts Events
Spider Sculptures, Gore Feasts, and More Arts Events
Feed your art habit with these recommended events for the week

March 22, 2024

KEYWORDS FOR THIS STORY

Taking Sides, Ronald Harwood, ActAustin, Magnolia Theatre Company, Jerry Pilato, Lawrence Coop, Art Peden, Randy McGibeny, Sara Larson, Rebecca Robinson, Joel Crabtree

MORE IN THE ARCHIVES
One click gets you all the newsletters listed below

Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events

Keep up with happenings around town

Kevin Curtin's bimonthly cannabis musings

Austin's queerest news and events

Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news

Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin.   Support the Chronicle