I Am My Own Wife @ Cleveland Play House 11/11 Living as one’s own wife is more than mind-boggling. To have done so in Germany, while at the same time living through the Nazi and Communist eras is beyond comprehension. Yet, that is the premise of the Pulitzer-Prize winning play I Am My Own Wife. I dare say that having once seen this play, you will never forget it. In fact, you might well want to see it again, to pick up any stray little nuances that might have escaped your notice the first time around. The play is packed with them.

Playwright Doug Wright was pointed to a possible story by his long-time friend John Marks, then bureau chief for an American news magazine in Berlin. The resulting play not only won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for drama, but also nearly every other possible such prize. It is an amazing story, well told and in the production currently at the Cleveland Play House, stunningly acted. It is quite simply—unforgettable.

Lothar Berfelde was born in 1928, but at the age of fifteen realized that he should have been born a woman. With the assistance of his Tante Luise (an avowed Lesbian) Lothar became Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, assuming the personality, habits and dress of a female. She lived thereafter in the family’s 28-room mansion in Mahlsdorf, a suburb of Berlin, collecting and enjoying her antiques—early music-reproduction machines, clocks and furniture.

For these two-plus hours of performance, Mark Nelson *is* Charlotte—and some thirty other characters, including her aunt and her father, the playwright and his friend, and various television reporters, policemen and friends. (Not incidentally, I was continually reminded of my own German-born Tante Annegret, who is nearly the same age, and has many of the mannerisms utilized by Mr. Nelson.)

Originally, Mr. Nelson was to direct this production, however, auditions failed to provide an actor with whom he was comfortable. A consultation with new CPH Artistic Director Michael Bloom resulted in Mr. Nelson being engaged instead as actor, and the presence of another director was sought. How fortuitous! Anders Cato was engaged and theatrical magic ensued.

For most of the two hours, Charlotte wears a simple black dress with string of pearls, a black scarf covering her hair, and black stockings with black oxfords. In only one scene does the costume vary—a prison uniform on her friend Alfred. But then it’s back to the usual costume, wonderfully designed by Jeffrey Van Curtis. The set by Hugh Landwehr is basically a platform with double doors at the rear. Scrims surround this room, and offer background scenery to match the story. Lighting by Howell Binkley highlights the action, whether daylight or evening, in a salon or the basement. James C. Swonger’s sound design includes the very early cylinder recording playbacks, bomb warning sirens, bullets, and several bursts of modern music, plus the ever-present modern day tape recorders on which Mr. Wright recorded his sessions with Charlotte.

But over and above all these marvelous technical achievements, it is Mr. Nelson who is purely awesome. Although most of the time, it is Charlotte telling her own story, at times, without even a flicker of an eyebrow, the actor changes speech patterns and dialects instantaneously. In one unforgettable three-sided conversation, he changes from the ordinary German-accented English of Charlotte to the Texan-accented English of Mr. Marks, to the ordinary English of Mr. Wright. At other times, Charlotte is witty or naughty or poignant as she lays bare her life and her soul for the rest of the world. She is unflinching in her honesty; she remained true to herself in spite of those around her.

I was not the only one so transported. The nearly-capacity audience was more quietly attentive than any I can recall in recent years. No cell phones or other electronic devices disturbed the concentration of actor or audience. Bravos all around.

I Am My Own Wife runs through November 27 in the Drury Theatre at the Cleveland Play House. For tickets or other information, call (216) 795-7000 or visit the web-site: www.clevelandplayhouse.com
From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz ArtsWriteratAdelphia.net (:divend:)