Watch on the Rhine review

Watch on the Rhine is a silver-screen type of play from 1941 by Lillian Hellman. The play is set
in an old vintage looking cinema and begins with Joseph the butler stare at everyone in the
audience as if he is trying to convey something with his stares. The play is mainly focused on
Fanny awaiting for her daughter Sara’s arrival after not seeing her for 20 years. Sara later on
arrives with her German husband, Kurt and three other children. Sara’s husband, Kurt, was
heavily judged by Teck, a caddish Romanian aristocrat. Teck kept trying to find ways to bring
Kurt down as he is highly suspicious of him. Therefore, leading him to bring up the fact that Kurt
was wanted by his Nazi gambling backstory at the German embassy. Throughout the play, the
tension kept thickening and rising until it reached a point where it was choosing between life and
death situations for both Teck and Kurt.

One thing that really stood out the most to me was the play's last scene where Kurt and his
family are required to make a difficult choice indeed stands out as one of its most unforgettable
moments. During that scene, each performer gave a spectacular performance that was both
moving and enduring in this sequence, which was intensely emotional and powerful.
Significantly, the “fight scene” between Kurt and Teck also surprised me as it was too sudden.
However, I had long expected that there would be a point where they would try to kill each other
and that expectation of mine actually happening made a lot of sense in my head and made it
easier for me to connect all the dots.

Moreover, the production's use of lighting and set design was one of its most noticeable features.
Different hues and intensities of lighting were used to great success to create a mood and a sense
of tension. The use of diverse items and set elements to create a realistic and immersive setting
was another excellent aspect of the set design. The usage of music in the production was yet
another noteworthy feature. A variety of musical selections were used to effectively convey
tension, atmosphere, and emotion. The play's climax, where the drama and tension reached a
peak, also made excellent use of music.

With a strong ensemble that was able to vividly and emotionally convey the play's themes, the
Watch on the Rhine production at the Donmar Warehouse was a memorable performance. Each
actor gave a spectacular performance that vividly and enduringly brought the characters to life.
The performances were excellent. In conclusion, the Donmar Warehouse production of Watch on
the Rhine was a remarkable production that was able to vividly and intensely convey the
concepts of the play. A memorable theatrical experience was produced through the
performances, lighting, stage design, and music.