The photo introducing this article shows an early scene in Mint Theater Company’s current offering, Crooked Cross. Written by Sally Carson with direction by Jonathan Bank, the photo shows a joyous scene from the play. It demonstrates how people can come together no matter their faith or political beliefs. Unfortunately, those gracious feelings change and dissolve as the story unfolds.
Crooked Cross is set in a small village in the Bavarian Alps. It opens in 1932 when fascism through the Nazi Party begins its rise. Family members begin their association with the Party for a variety of reasons. Some of those reasons seem pretty realistic. Crooked Cross does a superb job of showing that behind those reasons lies a more sinister reality which splits friends and family apart.
The play provides a strong story line developed by historic fact. However, at the time this was written, those facts were just starting to be discovered. It is fascinating to see the way playwright Carson has insights into the potential for future actions which of course we now know turned disastrous. Those sweet moments decorating and singing around the Christmas tree will be a final happy memory for those involved.
Come to see this show prepared to see this production unfold its story through strong acting and a solid production. As Mint Theater Company does so well, the staging is first rate adding to a greater understanding of what is taking place.
Background
Writer Sally Carson’s novel, Crooked Cross, provides the basis for this play. Carson wrote the novel in 1933 and it was published the next year. Note that Hitler came into power as Chancellor of Germany in 1933.
The book was adapted into a successful play in 1935. Carson followed it with two sequels before her death from cancer in 1941, by which time the prescience of her fiction had become appallingly evident.
At a post-show talk in 1935, Carson spoke about the generation coming of age in Germany after the Great War, World War I:
The German youth had been brought up to believe that their country was ‘beaten’ and ‘second-class.’ They developed a feeling of inferiority… Then along came Hitler who said, ‘You are not second rate and you are not going to be.’ This creed inspired the young people. ..Whether he will continue to bamboozle the people much longer, no one knows.
Content from this quote demonstrates what Carson uses as a basis for Crooked Cross. Startling at the time but also realistic.
First published in 1934, Persephone Books reissued the long out-of-print novel this April. Laura Freeman, writing about the novel’s re-issue in The Times said the following:
“It was written as a warning then and its message sounds just as urgently today as we worry about lost boys, strong men and old hatreds. If you have ever wondered how a nation was hooked and hypnotized by the Nazi party, Crooked Cross explains it with awful force.”
And therein lies the power of this play. It shows how ordinary, good people were caught up into the Nazi spectrum. It also serves as a reminder that the same thing can happen today or any time in the future.
The Story
Crooked Cross centers on two families: the Kluger and the Weissmann families. Both are facing the economic and political challenges of life in a quaint village in the Bavarian mountains. The story begins at Christmas 1932 and runs through June, 1933.
Lexa Kluger is engaged to Moritz Weissmann, a Jewish doctor. Despite being a doctor of good skills and reputation, Moritz looses his job with no reason given. Lexa’s brothers, Helmy and Erich, are becoming increasingly involved with the Nazi party. Their reasons for joining the party come from the difficult conditions they live under. Their desire to have a better life draws them into the impending darkness that Nazism brings with it although it is not as publicly evident at that time.
The play shows the struggle Lexa has with her family concerning her engagement to Moritz. Her parents’ concern is further complicated by the fine care Mr. Kluger received as a patient from Moritz as a health care professional.
Eventually, each person involved makes decisions which will determine the course of their lives. Be alert to the ending, it is startling. The day I saw this play, a number of people came out of the theater to discuss what happened. Tells you a lot about how well produced this show is.
Outstanding Cast and Crew
Mr. Bank directs a fine cast which features the following people: Samuel Adams, Liam Craig, Katie Firth, Jack Mastrianni, Gavin Michaels, Ben Millspaugh, Douglas Rees, Ella Stevens, and Jakob Winter.
The creative team includes Alexander Woodward (scenic design), Hunter Kaczorowski (costume design), Christian DeAngelis (lighting design), Sean Hagerty (sound design), Chris Fields (prop design), Joey Moro (projection design), Stephanie Klapper (casting director). and Amy Stoller (dramaturgy).
Final Thoughts about Crooked Cross
One would think that Sally Carson had a crystal ball when she wrote her novel Crooked Cross. Her ability to delve into the feelings of people living at that time in Germany allows the story to present both sides of a tragic issue. Her death in 1941 denied her of the chance to see how on target her writing was. Thanks goes to Mint Theater Company for bringing this forgotten work back to life on the New York stage.
Crooked Cross plays an Off-Broadway engagement at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street) It has a limited run through November 1st.
Tickets and are information are available on Mint Theater’s Website.
Mint Theater Company “finds and produces worthwhile plays from the past that have been lost or forgotten.” If you have never been to a Mint Theater Company production, this is a good first one to see. The high quality of their productions is consistent which makes for a fine visit to the theater.