WIESENTHAL-A Life Dedicated to Preserving Lives

Simon Wiesenthal was a Holacaust survivor who passed away in '05 at the age of 97.  He is remembered for his relentless pursuit to bring Nazi war criminals to justice.  Wisenthal is credited with aiding in bringing 1,100 Nazi's to trial who went into hiding after WWII.  In this moving one actor play, written & performed by Tom Dugan, we understand Wiesenthal mission to obtaining justice by alerting the world in the courts to Nazi atrocities. WIESENTHAL addresses us directly in the audience as if we were his last group of visitors to whom he is imparting his story & the legacy for the 11,000,000 people killed.  The play is set in his office in Vienna on the eve of his retirement in 2003.  He speaks while dissembling his office/files to be sent onto the Tolerance Museum in LA.  He confides to us that we are a special group as we are the last group he will be addressing.  He disarms us with a joke and a call from his wife whom he promises to remember to bring home the milk.  He writes it down as his wife asks so as not to forget.  We warm  to this disarming proud grandparent.  He tells us "I am often compared to James Bond except I don't  care for martinis."  What Wisenthal passionately cares about is imparting the knowledge of what happens when barbarianism meets with technology. He wishes to leave a permanent testament to serve against further genocides.  This is a compelling biopic enacted with grace, integrity & wisdom.  As Wiesenthal is about to leave his office, he reminds himself to bring milk home.  Far more importantly, he asks, who will remember after I am gone?  "I trust you to remember me."