Martin Sherman Criticism
Martin Sherman is an American playwright most renowned for his compelling work, Bent, which addresses the persecution of homosexuals by the Nazis. This play is noted for its ambitious storytelling and its exploration of themes involving love and survival amidst adversity. Bent is often celebrated for its theatrical intensity, though it has also sparked considerable debate. Critic 'Bent,' Starring Richard Gere acknowledges the play’s powerful theatricality, while also noting a stylistic shift in the second act that might challenge audience engagement. Meanwhile, John Simon criticizes the play for its melodramatic approach and perceived historical inaccuracies, claiming it leans on sentimental tropes at the expense of artistic depth. Brendan Gill highlights the passionate exploration of love and connection, despite noting execution flaws like the obscured setting. However, John Beaufort argues that Bent trivializes the Holocaust by focusing on sensational melodrama. Similarly, Robert Brustein suggests the play lacks depth, despite its serious tone and extensive research. Sherman’s work remains significant for its bold narrative and its willingness to tackle complex and controversial subjects through the lens of historical drama.
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'Bent,' Starring Richard Gere
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In the following essay, Walter Kerr critiques Martin Sherman's play "Bent" for its powerful theatricality in depicting the harrowing journey of its characters, although he notes a stylistic shift in the second act that may affect audience engagement and raise questions about character development.
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Campy Dachau, Plywood Mahogany
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In the following essay, John Simon argues that Martin Sherman's play Bent suffers from melodramatic storytelling and historical inaccuracies, ultimately forfeiting its artistic potential by resorting to commercialized and sentimental tropes, particularly in its portrayal of homosexual relationships during the Holocaust.
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Surviving
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In the following essay, Brendan Gill critiques Martin Sherman's play "Bent," highlighting its ambitious storytelling and themes of homosexual love and survival, while noting flaws in its execution, such as the initial concealment of time and place, but ultimately recognizing its passionate exploration of connection and love amidst adversity.
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Bent
(summary)
In the following essay, John Beaufort argues that Martin Sherman's play "Bent" trivializes the Holocaust by reducing its immense tragedy to a sensational melodrama, focusing on the plight of homosexuals under the Third Reich with lurid sensationalism and offensive explicitness rather than integrating their suffering into the broader context of Nazi atrocities.
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A Theatre for Clever Journalists
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In the following essay, Robert Brustein critiques Martin Sherman's play Bent, arguing that while the play is serious and well-researched, it lacks depth and imagination, failing to fully realize the implications of its subject matter about the treatment of homosexuals in Nazi camps.