★★★★1/2
Adelaide Fringe. Ayers House. 27 Feb 2026
Wiesenthal is based on the life and work of Simon Wiesenthal, a Jewish Holocaust survivor who became internationally famous for doggedly hunting down and bringing to justice nearly 1,100 Nazi war criminals. (This was only about 5% of the number he ‘had on his books’).
The play is set in his office on his last day at work before going into retirement. He invites one last group of students into his office (we the audience) and recounts his life’s work in tracking down history's most infamous and despised murderers.
Wiesenthal was written by American playwright Tom Dugan who has been nominated for the New York Drama Desk Award, New York Outer Critics Circle Award, Los Angeles Ovation Award, and has won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Wiesenthal.
Christopher C Gibbs plays Wiesenthal to perfection. He is an experienced actor who has clearly studied his subject, and he provides us with a compelling visualisation of Wiesenthal’s passion and humanity and of the conviction and drive that compelled him to do what he did for so long. Gibbs addresses the audience throughout—in some sense there is no ‘fourth wall’ at all—and we feel totally involved in his every move and every word. Even when a stage prop fails, and Gibbs wryly confesses it to the audience and momentarily takes us ‘out of the moment’, it’s still Wiesenthal talking to us. Gibbs has command and class.
The story of Simon Wiesenthal’s work is well known, and the action of the play follows him as he vividly recounts details how various Nazis were tracked down and apprehended, and the nature of their vile crimes. This reviewer has recently completed reading a ‘new’ history of the Holocaust (prompted by having seen the excellent film Nuremberg featuring Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring) and thought that he couldn’t be shocked any more, but Dugan’s detailed and biting text, coupled with Gibb’s exquisite storytelling and polished characterisation, shocks you all over again. The audience is outraged into extended disbelieving silence.
Why tell the story of the Holocaust again? As Wiesenthal says, because we must never forget. Because, as Churchill once said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Because, it is human nature to largely remain fixed in our behaviours and the direction of humanity’s moral compass needs to be constantly questioned.
Wiesenthal lived in dangerous times. So do we.
This is gripping theatre that matters.
Kym Clayton
When: 27 Feb to 8 Mar
Where: Ayers House
Bookings: adelaidefringe.com.au
