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Regional Reviews: San Francisco I Am My Own Wife Also see Patrick's review of The Bat and Richard's reviews of Harbor and Candide
So it was with some slight trepidation that I walked into the Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma for their staging of this one-person show that tells the life story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a transvestite (born Lothar Berfelde) who survived both the Nazis and the Stasi, while simultaneously preserving a good chunk of late 19th century furniture, clocks and gramophones and operating (out of her basement) the only gay bar in East Germany. Multiple Tony winner Jefferson Mays originated the role, which requires an actor to play 36 different parts. I needn't have worried. Cinnabar Theater should be immensely proud of the work they have done, for their production of I Am My Own Wife is everything great theater ought to be: transportive, insightful, thought-provoking—and entertaining. Although nothing in theater is ever perfect, the core team here—director Jennifer King, the staging team of Wayne Hovey, Sharlyn Klein and Ross Tiffany-Brown, and (especially) actor Steven Abbott—has come dazzlingly close. This team is aided by building on a strong foundation. Doug Wright's text elegantly and efficiently tells two key stories through three dozen different voices that weave into a single, beautiful whole. The story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf beggars belief. Born Lothar Berfelde in 1928 in Mahlsdorf, a small town just east of Berlin, the little boy found himself drawn to women's clothes and began wearing them exclusively and, with encouragement and support from a lesbian aunt, taking on a feminine identity. Charlotte's queerness attracted much negative attention—from her parents and from the Nazis (including her father) who ruled Germany at the time. It is here that I am tempted to tell you more of her story. But I shall refrain, for that work has been so brilliantly done by Doug Wright and Cinnabar Theater. It is a story you should not miss. Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, living under two of the most repressive regimes humankind has ever known, managed to create a private world for herself, acquiring and living with a massive collection of everyday items, as well as creating a space where the queer community of East Germany could gather in relative safety. In our modern world of Facebook/Twitter/Instagram where privacy has been redefined (or annihilated, depending on your point of view), Charlotte's life of open secrecy has tremendous resonance. As Charlotte, Abbott is beyond excellent. The job here requires incredible focus, versatility, and heart—all of which Abbott provides. Imagine that all the drawers and cupboards and cabinets of Charlotte's massive collection are filled with characters and emotions and memories—and Abbott has the key to open them all. From officious Stasi agent to gentle antiques dealer to brassy southern magazine writer to Japanese news reporter, Abbott unlocks them all for us. Abbott is given an equally flexible environment in which to exhibit these characters, thanks to the work of the staging team. The set is simple and elegant: a wainscoted and wallpapered wall upstage, with a beautifully-framed double door at center. In the square downstage are a small table and wooden chair, a narrow cabinet and another wooden chair, and a gramophone. On the table is a small box, where scenic designer Sharlyn Klein has placed a few miniatures that stand in for some of the treasures of Charlotte's collection. As Charlotte removes them, we get a sense both of the depth of her collection, and her love for the many items she saved over the years. In addition to a fascinating personal history, there is a detective story at the heart of this show. But since detective stories require mystery, I won't say more. Like the recent blockbuster podcast "Serial," I Am My Own Wife doesn't wrap all the answers in a tidy package for you. You must come to your own conclusion. Though they each leave you wondering where the truth lies, the end result is not in the least bit unsatisfying. Like Charlotte herself, I Am My Own Wife starts out as one thing before transforming into what she/it was always meant to be. I Am My Own Wife runs through February 22, 2015, at the Cinnabar Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 general, $15 for those 21 and under. Tickets and additional information are available at www.cinnabartheater.org or by calling 707-763-8920.
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