The Winning Side

See it if You love theater that questions our world, both past, and present. Seeing people of color play white characters from history.

Don't see it if You need a shallow form of entertainment.

Also I feel like whatever taglines I've seen for the show are nowhere near as interesting as the show itself. It deals with the ethics of science, of art, of relationships, of politics. Masterfully woven by Wallert, the play moves from two ends of a timeline towards each other, like a careening train - the inevitable explosion: when the US agreed to shelter Nazi scientists. I found the design and use of projections very interesting though the timeline could have been clearer. Fantastic performance by Sullivan Jones and the whole company. Kudos to the man playing like 40 roles. Honestly, I didn't care if some of the accents were off because he played an insane number of parts. It is a HUGE breath of fresh air to see people of color onstage reflecting history back at us. I dare you to name another show that does this besides Hamilton. It feels like the play forces us to question our own ethics with this choice: why do you have a problem with people of color portraying white characters?... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in topics of morality / ethics. you are interested in history. You appreciate complex character depictions

Don't see it if moral messages annoy you. You see the world in black and white and don't want to be challenged on that

See it if You like history and considering the complicated decisions made in war and peace. You like creative staging and casting.

Don't see it if You want only linear storytelling, or one hundred percent accuracy in historical info

See it if Great acting illuminates a dark moment in American history with considerable theatrical flair.

Don't see it if you watch a lot of sit-coms and don't care much about history.

See it if Even though this is a Nazi story it is so very relevant to today's political and social issues. The quandary of career choices vs moral

Don't see it if If you don't like being challenged. If you aren't interested in history or serious social issues

See it if Absorbing historical drama; explores big moral & political questions...and lies. Well written & acted. Loved post show discussion.

Don't see it if Not interested in history?

See it if you are interested in truth in history.

Don't see it if you really prefer light musicals (I do - but I enjoyed this show)

Also Almost Broadway quality

See it if You want to see a play about a historical event surrounding the Apollo moon landing and some of the folks behind the scenes.

Don't see it if You are not interested in historical events. You take offense to hearing about a Nazi officer Wernher von Braun and his role in this story.

Also I found the story line interesting and well done. I enjoyed the play and the performers and how they got the information out to the audience. Some might be offended about the Nazi SS officer but if you allow yourself to put that aside and look at the play for what it is, you just might enjoy it. Sometimes we need to fall back on politics and just sit back, relax and enjoy the performance.... Read more Read less

See it if You like smart well done shows that tackle a serious multi faceted subject and break it down into an entertaining easy to understand story.

Don't see it if You’re looking for fluff or mindless entertainment. You’re in serious danger of learning something if you see this.

See it if You like a well acted play with a plot based on historical events

Don't see it if You prefer a musical

See it if you want to learn more about Werner Von Braun and be entertained while also thinking

Don't see it if you want a fluffy tale, this is not about a moon landing Hoax, but rather the character of the man behind our missile to the moon program

See it if you like historical shows, even enhanced with conjecture.

Don't see it if you cannot accept horrific facts of the nazi and space exploration era.

See it if You're interested in a telling chapter in American history, von Braun, and/or dives into ethical and moral gray areas.

Don't see it if You're not into history, ethics/morals, or if seeing a swastika is triggering.

Also A deftly written and performed play. I first became aware of von Braun's role in the U.S. space program when work took me to Huntsville, AL, and on a late-evening walk I found myself in a park named after him and wondered why a park was honoring a Nazi. Even in the deep south that seemed pretty extreme. This play answers my early question but raises many more. The cast is wonderful. Very highly recommended.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy a bit of history. The actors do a great job.

Don't see it if Like comedies and musicals

See it if you love history plays

Don't see it if you want insight into the characters

See it if you like shows about historic figures and controversial subjects.

Don't see it if you prefer light stuff and musicals.

See it if a semi-biographic drama about the Nazi turned US citizen Werner von Braun would be of interest to you

Don't see it if History and two hours of tedious theater is not what you are in the mood for

Also The story is a bit slow and dragged out, but I liked it as the actors were really talented. It was really interesting to see what a complex life this man lived, and how he served the needs of two countries, and for such different purposes. He did whatever it took to accomplish his goal of attaining inter-planetary travel.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in how a scientist allowed people to be worked to death doing his research on rocket-ships for Nazi Germany.

Don't see it if political theater is not your cup of tea.

See it if you want to see an interesting drama about the genius of Werner von Braun.

Don't see it if you don't want to see a drama about the scientist who helped create the B2 rocket that was used to kill 20,000 people.

Also Werner von Braun also helped put Neil Armstrong on the moon.

See it if You are interested at the ethics of science and politics or if you are a fan of The Apollo program and its secrets.

Don't see it if You are uninterested in Nazis, ethics, science, politics or The Apollo program.

See it if you are interested in how Nazi officer Wernher von Braun developed rockets & spacecraft & eventually put USA astronauts on the moon in 1969

Don't see it if you are turned off by any person or project advanced via a collaboration with Hitler & The Third Reich; you are offended by moral turpitude

Also Tom Lehrer's song lyrics about Nazi officer Wernher von Braun are amusing & accurate; he was all about EXPEDIENCE.

The goals he achieved as an aerospace engineer were prized by Adolf Hitler and, in 1944, valuable enough to the USA government who let von Braun and his team of German scientists live / work in Huntsville, Alabama. Our gov't granted him citizenship.

But the back story is very ugly.

The play pulls no punches, however, it loads the last 10 minutes with his greatest misdeeds -- and I wondered why these facts were left to the finale instead of being brought forward earlier.

At a talk-back, the audience learned more about the French woman he loved in Paris & left behind. In 1955 she wrote him an impassioned 5-page letter from Morocco, describing her hardships after being branded "a Nazi collaborator" and begging for his help. He saved her letter but ignored her plea for assistance.

Expedience again?... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in political dramas.

Don't see it if you want a song-and-dance review.

See it if You appreciate a historical story well told.

Don't see it if You don’t like stories based on true WW II events.

See it if You are interested in history of the 20th century.

Don't see it if You’re looking for amusemenr

See it if you like plays about moral dilemmas, biography, political expediency and WWII aftermath with very fine acting.

Don't see it if you are dislike aspects of WWII history, thinking about moral dilemmas that people and governments have to face & frequent time changes.