KMPH FOX 26 | Central San Joaquin Valley News SourceDean Reviews "Stalag 17"

Dean Rhodus joined us Wednesday morning with his review of "Stalag 17" playing at the 2nd Space Theatre in Fresno.

The productions runs until October 9th. You can click here for more information.

Stalag 17 Captures WWII

The Broadway show opened in May 1951. It was directed by Jose Ferrer and introduced John Ericson as Sefton. The show ran for 472 performances. The television series "Hogan's Heroes" is loosely based on this play which in turn is based on the real life experiences of its two authors, Bevan and Trzcinski.

Stalag 17 was a prison compound in Austria run by the Germans, imprisoning a group of American pilots. It's twists and turns, as the prisoners try to escape but keep having their plans intercepted because there is in their midst an informer, keep the audience leaning in for any clue as to who the informer might be. 

The production as presented by Good Company Players at their 2^nd Space Theatre, and brings to life an era and spirit that existed in America during the 40's and early 50's. As I looked around the theater and watched the audience watch the performance I noticed a lot of, shall we say, more experienced heads, most of them gray. They were absolutely reveling in each word and inside joke. They knew this time first hand. When I watched the performance again, this time through their adoring eyes, I found a deeper appreciation. This is not a play, it's a capturing of a moment in time; a very important moment in the history of the world.

Duane Boutte has teased from the words and his actors a heartfelt energetic depiction of life during perilous times. There is humor and intrigue and betrayal and friendship; all the elements of life itself.

There are some very fine performances. I enjoyed Raul Reyes's Stosh and Chris Carsten's Corporal Shultz. For me, the most engrossing performance came from Gary Mosher as Geneva Man. His magnetism infuses his low key performance. Very skillful.

Congrats to Brian Pucheu for his first set design and as always Ginger Kay Lewis-Reed for her diligence in terms of authenticity of costuming. I encourage everyone to see this one, especially those whose era this is. Positively worth it.