Language:
English
Year of publication:
2001
Titel der Quelle:
New Theatre Quarterly
Angaben zur Quelle:
66 (2001) 170-185
Keywords:
Speer, Albert,
;
Vilar, Esther,
;
Edgar, David.
;
Sereny, Gitta.
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945), and the theater
;
National socialism Philosophy
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Abstract:
Discusses two plays staged in London, Esther Vilar's "Speer" (1998) and David Edgar's "Albert Speer" (2000), both of which were based on the book by journalist Gitta Sereny (1995). The plays, like the biography, are concerned with the extent of Speer's knowledge of the Final Solution during his career in the Nazi hierarchy, and with the integrity of the stance he adopted at Nuremberg and thereafter - his claim of guilt by association rather than active participation. Sereny presented Hitler's architect and Minister of Armaments, who was sentenced at Nuremberg to 20 years in jail, as having repented. Contends that Speer deceived Sereny by concealing evidence about his knowledge of, and perhaps involvement in, at least one aspect of the Holocaust. Both plays fail to clearly address the basic question of Speer's responsibility, with Vilar focusing on other aspects and Edgar suggesting that all of us have a "Nazi" within us, thus letting the guilty off the hook.
DOI:
10.1017/S0266464X00014573
URL:
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