ZT Hollandia, a theater ensemble group from the Netherlands, will intrigue people in Columbus by bringing its small-scale theater to the Wexner Center to perform a one-man play, “Quick Lime,” today through Saturday.
The story of “Quick Lime” is based on historical events which transpired in Nazi-era Germany, and revolves around would-be revolutionary Marinus van der Lubbe. van der Lubbe is the man responsible for the burning of the Reichstag building, an event which would have repercussions he did not expect.
“Hitler grossly exaggerated the damage that this fire had caused, and made it seem as if it was something on the scale of Sept. 11 here. He actually faked the pictures documenting the fire,” said Charles Helm, director of performing arts at the Wexner Center.
Hitler used the event and van der Lubbe’s leftist politics as a pretext to jail or exile communists and left-wing sympathizers all over Germany declaring martial law, Helm said.
Karen Simonian, spokeswoman for the Wexner Center, stressed it is not necessary for audience members to be knowledgeable about the history of World War II or international theater to enjoy the performance.
“This performance will be of interest to a wide variety of people,” Simonian said. “Certainly history buffs because it is about a specific moment in time, but also anyone who is just interested in the nature of being a good-intentioned revolutionary.”
“Quick Lime” is more than a simple recounting of historical events.
“As a theatrical experience, it’s really about bigger things — individuals in society, the attempt to put your stamp on history and make change — and how that can sometimes go terribly awry,” Helm said.
Because the gallery areas of the Wexner Center are under construction, theater performances will take place in the performance space of Mershon Center as black-box productions, a setup which allows a close, intimate setting and gives the spectators a view of the action, Simonian said.
The collaboration between the Wexner Center and Ohio State provides student performers the opportunity to interact with working professionals and witness a rehearsal before the actual performance, said Lesley Ferris, chairwoman of the theater department.
“It’s just a great opportunity for the students to interact with a major international theater company,” Ferris said.
ZT Hollandia incorporates a number of diverse elements such as experimental lighting, an electronic score and puppetry to recount van der Lubbe’s story.
“It’s an interestingly-staged show, not just a guy on stage talking to you. There is more going on,” Simonian said.
ZT Hollandia will perform “Quick Lime” at 8 p.m. today and tomorrow and at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday at the Mershon Center. Admission is $16 for the public and $10 for students.
