Hitler's Tasters

See it if you like political, dark comedies. This production was very theatrical and uniquely blended elements of today with 1940s Germany.

Don't see it if you prefer traditional storytelling. This production breaks a lot of rules in a unique (and fun!) way.

Also The music was incredible and I was excited to see that this production consists of an entirely female team.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see great theater, a devastating parable, superbly directed. This is our generation’s The Crucible. The actors astound.

Don't see it if You cannot or won’t connect the troubling dots btw. current events and fascistic politics. Brooks gives the cast cellphones for good reason.

See it if you are interested in connecting cultural themes and touchpoints from past history to today, you like edgy and non-traditional storytelling

Don't see it if you prefer more classic representations of history or traditional plot structure. You don't like dark comedy.

Also Very happy to see an all female creative team behind this. Interesting concept of relating Nazi-era Germany to current political issues in America (never out right stated, but easy to draw parallels) - it works in some ways and requires a bit of a stretch in other ways, but a great and thought-provoking exercise nonetheless. Some might find the stereotypical "girls being girls" moments (ex: endless selfies, gossiping and screaming over boys) to be cliche or annoying, but the moments of depth and honesty are more striking for it. Plus, it shows that women have similar thoughts, desires, fears and insecurities regardless of time or place.... Read more Read less

See it if you like irreverant, incisive takes on history. You have a dark sense of humor. You are interested in reflecting on politics then and now

Don't see it if you are upset by dark themes taken lightly, you don't like anachronism.

See it if you're cool w/a non-traditional take on WWII: dramatic & serious, youthful & humorous, modernized to near breaking point, but very poignant.

Don't see it if you prefer serious str8-forward theater. Please don't miss out. It's different, but SO worth experiencing.

Also I was uncomfortable for the 1st 5min of the show...

...but soon settled, opened up & got over it real quick.

When you walk in, the background music being played (before the show begins) seems WAY off the mark for what you think you're about to experience. We commented on it & chuckled but let it go, not knowing what was ahead. When the play makes its 1st scene-change, you get it. It works.

Although initially put off by the anachronistic take, I wouldn't want to see it done w/o the modernization & new millennium jargon. I'd be bored. It'd be just another dramatic WWII story we could stay home & watch on PBS.

Kudos to the entire bad-ass all-women cast & crew who put this piece together. You ladies ROCK.

Can't say enough about the ensemble, especially MaryKathryn Kopp (strong-willed "Hilda"), & Hallie Griffin (insecure/awkward "Leisel").

Based on true-life accounts; might be controversial for some. Intrigued by the title & short description, our initial curiosity paid-off immensely.... Read more Read less

See it if It's a great concept to view WWII thru the eyes of Hitler's food tasters. Clever idea and script.

Don't see it if However, modern choices such as taking selfies with cell phones, clashed with the reality of WWII. There were cameras back in the 40's.

Also I wish they had kept the anachronisms out; I found it distracting from the story.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re prepared for a thoughtful recreation of difficult world/American truths presented through a modern teen girl gaze in a 30-seat house.

Don't see it if you’re triggered by theatrical representations of Nazi Germany or American white supremacy.

See it if you'd enjoy a story showing realistic dealing of an extreme situation. So much below the surface!

Don't see it if you want an overly engaging production. It's a great play, but sometimes I felt my mind wandering.

See it if If you like shows that examines the nitty gritty of living under a fascist dictatorship. or to see the worst and best come out under tyranny

Don't see it if IF you don't like heavy handed comparisons to today's political situation. If you don't like telegraphing of future parts of the plot.

See it if You like a good dose of anachronism in your art. You want to see some great performances. You want to see Spring Awakening meets Der Bunker.

Don't see it if You dislike anachronistic plays. This one is pretty extreme. You don't like scripts that feel a little too much lie a Meisner exercise.

Also “The food was delicious, only the best vegetables, asparagus, bell peppers, everything you can imagine... But...Every day we feared it was going to be our last meal.” —Margot Woelk

While Hitler's Tasters is a work of fiction, it is based loosely on actual young girls who acted as human poison-buffers for Adolf Hitler.

Hitler's Tasters works well both as political commentary and a sharp piece of theatre.

The performances are excellent. MaryKathryn Kopp, as the prideful Hidla, is particularly compelling. But there is no shortage of masterful acting.

The direction and design is effective, though I would love to see a version of this play that is stripped of its anachronisms. They help to immediately humanize the characters, as they become instantly recognizable in today's world, but I still feel it might be stronger without them.

There are a few moments in the script that feel a little acting exercise-esque that could be excised. (A la repeated words)... Read more Read less

See it if Relating to teens in another era appeals to you.

Don't see it if You're looking for some deep meaning of life.

See it if You enjoy seeing an all female cast take creative steps in an odd but delightful direction.

Don't see it if You want something light or you want an average theatre experience. It's experimental in a beautiful way.

See it if If you're looking for new and inventive ways to tell history. If you enjoy good acting and good writing. If you like small theatres.

Don't see it if If introducing anachronistic elements into a piece of historical fiction turns you off, stay away.

Also I was a little wary going into Hitler’s Tasters because I foolishly read some reviews. Most of the reviews are great but a few lamented the anachronistic elements that Michelle Kholos Brooks used to tell the story.

The mention of “selfies” in more than one review made me seriously consider not even going to the show. So I fought myself and lost (won?) deciding to go on in.

And I loved it. She has woven such a deeply touching story using the tools and mannerisms that today’s younger people use and it absolutely works. I thought the girls having cell phones, and the modern music throughout, might take away from the emotion of the piece but it didn’t.

There were parts that made me cry and I left there still thinking about what I had seen. I’m even now still working through it .... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see an impressively mounted play by an accomplished young playwright with ambition and the talent to back it.

Don't see it if you find anachronistic contempo behavior and language in period settings a distracting deal breaker.

See it if You enjoy a good play with beautiful choreography and acting.

Don't see it if You don't care about history or what it has to offer.

See it if You like Mean Girls. A very interesting story with a modern twist. Very professional and crisp presentation. Funny and dark & informative.

Don't see it if You can't get past the title. Don't like an all teenage girls cast.

Also This is a very distasteful title to a very creative, inventive, thought-provoking and well-acted play. "The Tasters" would have inspired more confidence to a searching audience...
Loosely based on the experience of Margot Wölk the only surviving taster.... Read more Read less

See it if Actors were believable in their fluctuation between fear, misplaced loyalty and adolescent absorptions. Appropriately chilling atmosphere.

Don't see it if There could have been more character development and less repetition, though it was gutsy to combine past and present tensions and it works.

See it if Clever concept and surprisingly entertaining. Has both funny and thought provoking moments.

Don't see it if You dislike smaller productions with simple staging.

See it if Thought-provoking, disturbing, and eerily prescient. Vapid Mean Girls play Russian roulette to uphold their blind faith in the fuhrer.

Don't see it if Interesting premise and solid acting, but sketch-like structure precludes a satisfying ending. Title should be less on the nose.

Also Anachronistic props and references, on balance, make the piece that much more effective, especially given the play’s inadvertent timeliness... Read more Read less

See it if You're interested in an anachronistic look at the past as it relates to the present.

Don't see it if You're going to be offended by off-color jokes or you want a big splashy production.

See it if you like to get a feel for how it must have felt living under Nazi dictatorship or any dictatorship in past, present or future.

Don't see it if you don't want to be confronted with Nazis or other dictatorships or can't handle a period piece using modern equipment (cell phones)

See it if you are looking for good acting from a young cast. Interesting story with resonance for today. P.S. Hitler does NOT make an appearance

Don't see it if you are looking for a full scale production. Its 90 minutes and I found the first 30 to be slow moving.

See it if you want to experience an all-woman production pointing out the horror of the job with some good humor, a unique set and references to today

Don't see it if you want a serious look at the terrible work that the tasters faced - this takeoff is a modern day mash and makes light of an awful time.

See it if you need to laugh at the current dark state of the world.

Don't see it if you can't find humor in dark trying circumstances, situations, or history.

Also The piece was quite good when it wasn't drawing overly direct parallels with the current administration. Also, the tone of the piece and the performances seem to shift at will. I think the show would be better served if each of the girls leaned more into a comic tone.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in how politics and government affect us.

Don't see it if you want to watch a light, cutesy play.

Also I was most impressed with the acting, especially the gal who played Hilda.... Read more Read less