'The Trial Of The Century' tried Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, taken by Mossad agents from hiding in Argentina to Jerusalem in 1960.
Bootcamp Theatre’s take on Donald Freed’s provocative script skilfully questions obedience and personal responsibility.
This double-header sees Steve Scott’s Eichmann, a shambling ‘nebbish’ by his own admission empowered by the administration of what he sees as mere ‘transportation’, interrogated by refugee and now esteemed psychologist Dr Baum (Heather Alexander).
Scott is perfect: charismatic and idealistic as he espouses what he sees as the virtues of Zionism and the relocation of European Jews to Palestine, meekly ordinary when detailing his dedication to following orders.
A fully fleshed out human, too proud to accept his own feelings of guilt and remorse.
Likewise, Alexander as Baum is thoroughly convincing as his captor, initially calm and collected though growing increasingly agitated at Eichmann’s refusal to acknowledge his guilt and patently ridiculous attempt to be somehow more than human.
Sparks fly wonderfully as the audience undertakes Baum’s same struggle to find the humanity behind Eichmann’s “banality of evil”.
A compassionate look at the complexity of totalitarianism, The White Crow retains all of its impact and insight.
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