Conspiracy is based on the HBO film of the same name written by Loring Mandel and presented by Strawmoddie in association with RFT and is showing at the Hill Street Theatre. As a warning, this show could be considered highly distressing due to the subject matter and the articulation of that subject matter. It is important to note that all involved have done a difficult and emotionally demanding job in presenting this production.
From the beginning, it is clear there has been a lot of care and attention to detail applied to Conspiracy, from the set design down to the costumes and the effective use of space. The character conversations that needed to be heard during the conference breaks were cleverly directed to the front of the stage and took centre point in the audience’s view.
The writing is exceptional, and there are certain statements that are particularly haunting, such as the insistence regarding the lives and existence of Jews that “one is too many” and Gerhard Klopfer’s gut-punching parting word after the decision to enact the worst genocide in human history has been reached. The entire cast were clearly dedicated to their roles, with particular praise being placed at the feet of Timothy Bond playing the impassioned Wilhelm Stuckart, Chris Allan as the fiercely demanding Gerhard Klopfer, and Matthew Jebb as the sinister SS representative Heinrich Müller. There is a great deal of control exercised by the cast, guided by Caitlin Carter’s directing, which is highly effective, especially in moments such as the hitting of the tables in unison, creating a cacophony of sound to assault the senses and add to the power of the atrocities being discussed and advocated before the audience’s eyes.
There is an effective portrayal of excessive egos, especially in the instance of Reinhard Heydrich in his charming persona played by Jonathan Whiteside, who does an admirable job. All the cast should take to heart that they have a difficult job to do but that it is an important job and to be bold and confident in doing it.
Conspiracy is a production that sadly remains relevant even to this day, where antisemitism is on the rise and the Jewish diaspora is once more under threat because of the actions of those in power. History should never be forgotten lest it be repeated, and Conspiracy does an exceptional job in reminding us that evil lurks within the hearts of humans, not fictitious monsters with red eyes and sharp teeth. Overall, this show is haunting, chilling, and enough to move even the hardest heart to tears.
