Fabulett Productions from London England presented The Pink List at the Orlando International Film Festival. In Nazi Germany homosexuals were prosecuted and sent to concentration camps during World War II. After Germany lost the war and the concentration camps were liberated the persecutions continues. Germans are very good about making detailed lists and they created the Pink Lists documented people of questionable sexuality. Even decades after the war was over, persecution continued.
Writer-performer Michael Trauffer brought this seldom referenced aspect of WWII history to life with a musical. I had my doubts that a musical solo show could encapsulate such a serious subject but Michael approached the story with humanity. His character, Karl Hellwig, was tender and affectionate. When a popular boy befriended him, he was head over heels in love. When that same boy embraced the doctrine of the Hitler youth. Though he idolized the boy he had to question his choice to follow the dark path of the Hitler youth.
Karl was separated from his crush when he was shipped off to a camp. In camp he managed to befriend a camp guard who managed to give him perks which kept him alive. That relationship was also short lived in the hellscape of the Nazi Concentration camp.
When the camp was liberated by the Americans you would think that freedom would be the sweet reward for surviving the camp. After liberation the same bureaucrats rose to power to run the post war Germany. 12 years later, Karl was once again picked up by authorities because his name was on the Pink List. He found himself in court having to defend his right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. His sexuality negated all those civil liberties.
America is now goose stepping its way down the same road of prosecuting people and putting them in camps. History quickly repeats itself when people are treated as scapegoats by the fascists in power. When people are treated as the enemy within you can convince people to do atrocious acts. Humans more often than not, choose violence over empathy.
The story is important to tell at this time in America’s history. The music didn’t stick with me but the message hits home. I am reading books about Stalag VI the German forced labor camp my father helped liberateat the end of WWII. Over 200 Soviet prisoners died each day even after being given K rations. Telling such a serious story as musical softens the blow. Was this a hard history lesson of entertainment? It needs to be both.