By Eva Trieger
SOLANA BEACH, California – Under David Ellenstein’s direction, North Coast Rep audiences are about to embark on a psychological journey to an historical meeting between the Nazi Marshal, Herman Goering and psychiatrist Dr. Douglas M. Kelley.
Sense of Decency follows the conversations between these men for the express purpose of understanding how evil of such magnitude is created. This world premier, written by award-winning playwright and actor, Jake Broder, is based on the book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist written by Jack El-Hai.
Broder found the seeds for his play in the copious notes found in the home of Dr. Douglas Kelley’s son. From these writings, Broder crafted a script rife with psychological magic. In a phone interview, Broder explained that he wants audiences to experience the strange and complex bond formed between the two men, for despite the heinous nature of Goering’s narcissism and evil, a friendship was created through their hours of conversations.
As proof of his compassion for Hitler’s yes-man, Dr. Kelley asked that the hard wooden bench in the courtroom be cushioned out of respect for the age and health of the defendant. Using just four characters, Broder creates a high wire act, which is both entertaining, captivating and provocative.
Kelley, a 32-year-old American army psychiatrist, was assigned to meet with 22 Nazi war criminals who survived the collapse of the Third Reich. For six months, the psychiatrist met with Goering to determine his fitness to stand trial, and more importantly to learn what makes the Nazi brain capable of conjuring up and inflicting such evil without remorse.
Kelley described Goering as “undoubtedly the most ruthless human being that I have ever experienced.” And yet, Broder relayed how the monster also had an emotional flip side. Goering was said to have been outraged and cried when he learned that he’d been duped by Han Van Meegeren, a mediocre Dutch artist. Goering traded two hundred original works seized by the Nazis in exchange for what he believed was Vermeer’s “The Woman Taken in Adultery.” Van Meegeren later was tried for the forgery, but fancied himself a national hero, as opposed to a Nazi collaborator.
With the help of another psychiatrist, Gustave M. Gilbert, Kelley employed the then relatively new Rorschach test. Subjects are asked to look at a series of black and white inkblots and describe what they see in the images. This projective test is used to determine psychiatric disorders and explore personality traits. Dr. Kelley used unconventional methods in his work with patients, including magic!
Broder told me that his intention is not for viewers to come away with a decision about guilt or innocence, but to observe that humans are always trying to implant their worldview in the other when conversing. Through his careful, strategic framing the playwright allows the audience to see monsters do their thing. He describes his play as “envelope pushing but mindful.”
The Los Angeles-based playwright explained the stage rights became available and he workshopped the 90-minute show in October. The actors include Frank Corrado, Brendan Ford and Lucy Davenport. The design team consists of Marty Burnett, Matthew Novotny, Eric Montierth, Elisa Benzoni and Peter Herman.
Sense of Decency will run April 17th through May 12th. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 858.481.1055 or online at www.northcoastrep.org.
*
Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com
Answer: My father was a Holocaust survivor.During his youth, he was tortured and starved, for seven years. The Nazis farewell present to him was the KL tattooed insignia that was there, for all to see, on his arm, for the next eight decades.No need, for myself, to understand his wickedness. No need for me, to find a reason, even to spend one minute with him.Wickedness, no matter where it is, should be obliterated.
Pingback: 'Sense of Decency' Doesn't Deliver on Playwright's Intentions - San Diego Jewish World