"Democracy" Really is Best

On October 10th we attended a dramatic play – “Democracy” – at Wyndham’s Theater. The subject is Willy Brandt’s time as Chancellor of West Germany when he set in motion the reconciliation that ultimately led to the re-unification of West and East Germany. It was, apparently, a time of great political infighting in West Germany, with frequently shifting political coalitions (the play, while fiction, accurately depicts the real events of the time). After Brandt was in office for 4 years it was discovered that his closest advisor/staff member was, in fact, a spy for East Germany. The cast is all-male, reflecting the reality of German politics of the day; they all did a masterful job. The dialog was exceptionally intelligent.

The play has received numerous awards and great critical acclaim. Our assessment is that the plaudits are well-deserved. In fact, it is the best dramatic play we have seen and received Kathi’s rare 5-star evaluation.