History of Violence

See it if ur open to an honest & personal lesson about trust, lust, insecurity, suspicion, prejudice & forgiveness centered around a harrowing crime.

Don't see it if you'll be triggered by frank depictions of sexual violence; you're uncomfortable with male nudity; you don't want to read supertitles.

Also Although not requisite, I do highly recommend either seeing the production of The End of Eddy currently playing at BAM or reading Édouard Louis’ autobiographical novel of the same name before seeing this production.
As for History of Violence, the story and its cautionary tale are partly obscured by Ostermaier's highly stylized production. The multimedia elements (dance, live video, musical accompaniment, etc.) make for very effective theatrics, but the unique narrative presentation also places the audience at too a safe distance to fully experience the intended emotional impact (although there are tales of people weeping openly & walking out in horror).... Read more Read less

See it if you’re interested in multi-media staging possibilities at the end of the 2nd decade of the 21st century.

Don't see it if you’re looking for a play: Though this piece often dips into drama, it’s proudly post-dramatic.

Also Interested in contemporary staging possibilities? You’ll want to see “History of Violence.” But I found it only intermittently effective. Toward the beginning a naked double of the narrating young gay male hero flops around on a drenched floor, trying desperately to clean himself after a sexual assault; it still haunts me. What followed felt forensic by comparison, clinical, though always handsome, like so much subsidized continental post-dramatic theater. A bigger problem is with the “drama” this piece often reverts to. The toxic relationship of the hero to his country relatives (a sister, her lout of a husband & his working-class mother), is beyond clichéd: It makes crude fun of the rural, the minimally educated, the female. The hero’s relationship with his attacker, a trick gone wild, compounds cliché in invoking the tormented closet case with an immigrant background—a weirdly blinkered choice for a piece that’s reaching for wide significance (unless the title is fully ironic).... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of Edouard Louis, like plays about gay men, interested in recovery after a horrible trauma & in modern German theater,

Don't see it if Upset by sexual trauma, male nudity, gay issues, not a fan of supertitles or use of video in plays, only like plays in English

See it if Male perspective as victim of assault and three actors in multiple roles absorbing its aftermath.In German with supertitles,video-cam,beats.

Don't see it if Missed is a deeper dive:Assault is power and aggression.With the added burden of racial tension and assumption.More topic needed in its 2hrs

See it if Experimental theater highlighting social conflicts in racism/ homosexuality/education/class; superb acting, staging & use of video

Don't see it if Nudity, rape, violence and/or homosexuality are sensitive subjects for you; use of herbal cigarettes can be overpowering at times.

Also Excellent use of drums amplifies the already existing tension. It takes a little time getting used to reading supertitles and paying attention to the actors, but it does get easier. Very worthy of your time.... Read more Read less

See it if you like experimental, edgy theater that uses new techniques to powerfully tell a story.

Don't see it if you object to watching staged acts of violence. This is an intense show

See it if you enjoy an interpreted piece with subtitles depicting white privelege gayness vs third world gayness

Don't see it if subtitles displayed on the screen with multiple people talking confuses you ( it did me) and if gay themes are of no interest to you

See it if Layered intersections of sex, class, family relationships, and loneliness harshly yet beautifully rendered with multimedia experience.

Don't see it if Explicit guns, rape, attempted murder are triggering. French setting in German with English supertitles is a little confusing.

Also Diversity: multiple narratives of the gay man of poorer upbringing, woman of lower socioeconomic class, and Arab not-out man.
Ticket from online rush via TodayTix for $27.50. Seat in back corner.... Read more Read less

See it if In the style of Ivo van Hove. Immersive and challenging. Generous and brave acting.

Don't see it if In German,

See it if You love theater, with it’s spotlight on topical subjects, with unflinching recoil from topical subjects, and themes that need explored.

Don't see it if You have issues with nudity, sexual violence, or theater in its raw form—this is a tough visual to experience, but worthy if you’re able.

See it if This is, at best, a mediocre production of the writer's autobiography. Do you we need music, video and dancing in a PLAY. Not really.

Don't see it if The actors are quite compelling. The nudity, at times, unnecessary. Editing could help improve this German language production.

See it if you are interested in seeing how Edouard Louis's novel can be dramatized with intensity and intimacy. This multimedia experience was unique.

Don't see it if you are easily unset by brutal sexual assault on stage as well as moral and political ambiguity, not a very black and white world shown.

See it if A dramatization of how we so easily fall into conflict along lines of race, gender orientation, emigration status, and class. Honest.

Don't see it if This a play that leaves little to the imagination. Multiple trigger warnings. A male-on-male rape explicitly portrayed.

See it if you enjoy foreign language theatre that explores violent events and the struggle to deal with the aftermath.

Don't see it if you don't like plays with violence and nudity and a non-linear structure.

See it if you want an intense theatrical experience. It will make you squirm. Unique. Makes you think about perspective vs. experience. Great acting.

Don't see it if you are uncomfortable with violence, a character being attacked. This is not fun and games. Much could be trimmed a bit. Glad I saw it.

See it if you like brilliant and layered storytelling: timelines intercepting each other, videography, movement, live percussion

Don't see it if you don't like to see rape being depicted on stage

Also Love the perspective of "you remember by trying to forget", meaning once we were asked to retell something, it changes the way we remember it, it has been defined and can never be remembered the way in our head.... Read more Read less

See it if you like complex, layered, dark, non-linear, graphic, powerful dramas ... performed in german with supertitles.

Don't see it if you don't want to read subtitles; you try to avoid upsetting stories; you've already seen your share of naked men on stage this year.

Also History of Violence is well worth the effort it requires to watch. this autobiographical tale begins at the end ... and then ends at the end, with an added twist. MAYBE SPOILERS: this is the story of a young gay student who meets a dark & sexy stranger on the streets of paris at 4:00am. they circle each other flirtatiously & ultimately end up at the student's flat where they easily fall into lust and maybe even feel the beginnings of a deeper connection ... and then suddenly it all goes grotesquely wrong. the four actors, two playing multiple roles, are all superb. the staging is spare, the lighting evocative. at the stage's edge a percussionist subtly establishes the emotional temperature. black&white video projections heighten the tension & sense of danger/paranoia. the sensitive subject matter is handled with introspection & sadness & anger ... the audience is rendered speechless as the lights fade.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a modern theater view of homophobic violence

Don't see it if You do not like theater mixed with video and cell phone, you are homophobic , or easily squeamish

See it if You want to see a multimedia exploration of how we navigate our sexualities, race, class, and families. Ambitious and psychologically heavy.

Don't see it if You were expecting more. It was more than a little self-indulgent and indicative of privilege despite it desperately not wanting to be.

See it if You enjoy theatre that takes risks and attempts to break boundaries and tell stories in original ways. You enjoy foreign theatre

Don't see it if You can't stand to read subtitle for an entire 2 hour production with no intermission. You can't take explicit, violent depictions.

See it if You like creative use of video as part of the production.

Don't see it if You can't watch violence. Needless to say I stayed in well lit areas on my bike ride home.

See it if you like flawless execution from master director. Love to see the theatre philosophy in action on stage. Can deal with a bit of un-comfort.

Don't see it if you may be triggered by sexual assault. Can't handle subtitles on stage ( but, if there is a time to try it, this is it - well integrated).

See it if you are interested in experiencing foreign culture via theatre. If you’re interested in pure theatre as artistic expression.

Don't see it if you are particularly sensitive and/or triggered by hyper realistic depictions of sexual violence.

Also I wept throughout this piece, sometimes inexplicably. The acting across the board had a magic quality to it; it was effortless, but also an astonishing feat to witness.

The staging was entrancing. Its use of multimedia never feels like a gimmick. The viewpoints-esque movement breaks were starkly different from the narrative, but their emotive quality was completely sound, thematically. The aesthetics of this production are as equally cathartic as the narrative. This is a real privilege to behold and if you're at all interested, I highly recommend it.... Read more Read less

See it if powerfully portrayed true story of an act of violence between gay men; gorgeous staging; astonishing acting; beautifully realized

Don't see it if you're triggered by rape, although very well foreshadowed; can't do cigarette smoke or flashing lights (not strobe); hate subtitles (German)

Also The first ten minutes or so are tough after a long day looking at the computer, given bright lights, screens, subtitles, but suddenly the play is almost over. First time I've seen a two-hour play w/out intermission without looking at my watch once. Truly beautiful and astonishing performances, I want to call out every individual, even the percussionist whom I kept suddenly remembering was there because the beat or the piano or the cymbals were so perfectly apt. The moments of violation were hard to watch but not dwelled on. The lead was so convincing that I wanted to hug him after.... Read more Read less

See it if You can withstand a clinical, punishing consideration of a brutal crime and want to engage more intellectually than emotionally.

Don't see it if The show has a content warning for sexual violence. Take it seriously. There were some abrupt walk-outs tonight. It’s hard to watch.

Also I am unsure how to rate this. I question a lot of Ostermeier’s choices, particularly regarding the (over?)use of video and the treatment of the female characters. I don’t think it all worked. Moments of dance felt ill-conceived and not very effective. But I still was engaged all the way through what is a punishing, challenging, intriguing piece. It is worth the watch if you can stomach it. It should be avoided if there is any hesitation regarding the subject matter.... Read more Read less