Envisage that a so-called radical ‘cure’ had been found for paedophilia or serial killers, and that the medical profession took it upon themselves to forcefully inject animal hormones into sensitive body parts – anaesthesia-free, manhandle and publicly strip naked known offenders, extending them the same courtesy as cosmetic or toxicology test rodents, with the establishment in full knowledge and agreement.
In the 1940s in Denmark a Dr Carl Peter Værnet did just that to homosexuals.
Playwright Claudio Macor read about the gut-churning details in The Guardian and put digits to keys, and with Andrea Leoncini’s gift at production they produced Savage.
A young Danish Værnet watched his best friend become infected with ‘homosexuality’ and engulfed with shame, thus indoctrinating the doctor-to-be, as Hitler did his Wehrmacht, which drew him to barbaric practices.
A country gasping for breath under a swastika-embossed pillow leads to hidden stolen kisses, betrayal amongst homosexuals, love and a legal gay scene torn apart, misguided brutal homo therapy, men robbed of their manhood and reprehensible injustice.
Macor’s words should be mounted and hung in an Italian Renaissance gold leaf frame in the Louvre – beautifully written. It was as if we were in the 1940s, observing the real events unfold with such realism from Gary Fannin (Dr Carl Peter Værnet), Alexander Huetson (Nikolai Bergsen) and Bradley Clarkson (General Heinrich Von Aechelman) – a class act, chaps.
This is one not to be missed. Thabulous doesn’t give stars – but if we did, five whoppers would be in order.
SAVAGE
June 29th 2016 – July 23rd 2016 Monday – Saturday, 7:30pm Saturday matinees, 2:30pm
Arts Theatre, 6-7 Great Newport St, London WC2H 7JB £22/£18 (concessions)
www.artstheatrewestend.co.uk
twitter.com/SavagePlayUK
