Camp Siegfried (play) explained

Camp Siegfried is a play by Bess Wohl. Its setting is the real Camp Siegfried where American children of German descent were taught Nazi ideology.

Background

Playwright Wohl had rented a house in Bellport, Long Island, and had researched the nearby town of Yaphank. She discovered the town had hosted a camp for German-American youth, and felt it had the makings of a drama.^[1]

Productions

Camp Siegfried premiered at The Old Vic theatre in London, in a production starring Patsy Ferran as Her and Luke Thallon as Him.^[2] The production played a limited run from 7 September 2021 to 30 October.^[3]

A production opened off-Broadway at the Tony Kiser Theatre on 15 November 2022 and ran through 4 December 2022, following previews from 25 October. The cast featured Johnny Berchtold (originally cast to Sawyer Barth) as Him and Lily McInerny as Her. The production was directed by David Cromer.^{[4] [5]}

Critical reception

In his 5 star review for The Independent, Paul Taylor described Camp Siegfried as "an insightful piece about the frightening appeal of fascism".^[6] In her 3 star review for The Guardian, Arifa Akbar states that "while Wohl’s dialogue is good at teen neurosis, it contains an offputtingly self-conscious tone, carefully crafted for cuteness".^[7]

See also

• Camp Siegfried

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2021-09-07 . 'This is still here': Bess Wohl's story of seduction in a Nazi summer camp . 2022-08-25 . the Guardian . en.
2. Web site: Camp Siegfried at the Old Vic: Patsy Ferran and Luke Thallon discuss premiering the new play WhatsOnStage . 2022-08-25 . www.whatsonstage.com . 4 October 2021 . en-GB.
3. Web site: Camp Siegfried at the Old Vic – first look at rehearsals WhatsOnStage . 2022-08-25 . www.whatsonstage.com . 18 August 2021 . en-GB.
4. https://www.theatermania.com/news/johnny-berchtold-replaces-sawyer-barth-in-camp-siegfried_94345/&ved=2ahUKEwj3sfPU28WDAxWALEQIHd18CakQFnoECBAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1fXBeHhvfuWEB1IPBT1d6S
5. News: Green . Jesse . Review: At 'Camp Siegfried,' a Nazi Summer of Love on Long Island . The New York Times . 16 November 2022 . 2023-02-01 . en.
6. Web site: 2021-09-18 . Camp Siegfried is an insightful play about the frightening appeal of fascism – review . 2022-08-25 . The Independent . en.
7. Web site: 2021-09-17 . Camp Siegfried review – love and terror on Long Island . 2022-08-25 . the Guardian . en.