Shadow of Heroes
Closed 2h 30m
Shadow of Heroes
82%
82%
(14 Ratings)
Positive
100%
Mixed
0%
Negative
0%
Members say
Absorbing, Great acting, Intelligent, Relevant, Great staging

About the Show

Metropolitan Playhouse's revival follows the intertwined lives of three friends and lovers from the liberation of Hungary from the Nazis in 1945 to its invasion by the Soviet army in 1956.

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Critic Reviews (4)

Theatermania
November 15th, 2018

"A heroic revival...Its crystalline voice reverberates into our own time, causing chills...The metatheatrical conceit of having a character named 'Author' step in and provide context works exceptionally well...Roe takes full advantage of this device in his minimalist staging...The performances powerfully resurrect these historical figures...This isn't just the stale 'relevant' theater of yesteryear, but a devastating record of the kind of cruelty and courage that echoes throughout human history."
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Lighting & Sound America
November 19th, 2018

"In Alex Roe's cleanly staged, generally well-acted production, this story exerts a terrible fascination, demonstrating as it does the uses of power to maintain the status quo behind a Potemkin village façade of social progress...Seen at a distance of half a century, it retains its power, especially given how Hungary has once again fallen into the hands of a neo-fascist strongman."
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TheaterScene.net
November 26th, 2018

"Metropolitan Playhouse demonstrates that his 'Shadow of Heroes' is a durable play that is both relevant and timely yet again as we go through a period of political and right wing turmoil. While it might be easier to follow with a larger cast filling the 30 roles, Alex Roe's production is both trenchant and illuminating as it recounts recent history that many of us may never have known. If we don't learn from the past, we will be condemned to repeat it."
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Off Off Online
November 21st, 2018

“A gripping and sad tale...It brings to life the true story of László and Rajk, Marxist leaders in the Hungarian resistance during World War II...The portrait of Hungarians living under a totalitarian government is well wrought in Ardrey’s gripping 1958 drama...The Author adeptly narrates the historical events, and there are many to follow, as the story outlines how politics is played like a chess game.”
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