Chaney Moore

1. Based on real events and people

Author-

Lillian Garrett-Groag.

Language-

English

Play Structure-

2 Acts, 3 Scenes

Cast-

Sophie Scholl, 21.

Hans Scholl, 25.

Alexander Schmorell, 25.

Christopher Probst, 24.

Wilhelm Graf, 25.

Robert Mohr, 50’s Head of the Munich Gestapo

Anton Mahler, 30’s Gestapo investigator

Run Time- 2hr. 5min.

Genre Identification- Chamber Play, Drama

Bio- The White Rose was written by Lillian Garrett-Groag and premiered in 1991 at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, Calif. The play chronicles the arrest, interrogation and eventual execution of a group of University of Munich students who protested the Nazi regime at the height of World War II. The students assigned to themselves the name White Rose.
The play has roles for seven males and one female. The strongest roles belong to Robert Mohr, the head of the Munich Gestapo, and Sophie Scholl, one of the students. Mohr, moved by Scholl's passion (and mindful that she is German, but not Jewish), attempts to save her by giving her a chance to recant, but she refuses. The play ends with a spotlight on Scholl snapping off, symbolizing her beheading, and Mohr musing, "The most we can hope for is to get by. Heroes and ... (carefully) demagogues will always shake things up for a while, but if we're clever, we'll still be here when they're gone." At which point, a Gestapo investigator attempts to be encouraging, noting that people like Mohr "are of enormous use to the Reich." Thus concludes the theme of the play, that people, not monsters, are responsible for great communal disasters, and each of those people had a "moment of choice," according to Garrett-Groag in her Forward. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillian_Garrett-Groag

Publication Info- DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC,.440 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y. 10016

Licensing and Rights- Must have written permission from DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE and pay the requisite fee. All other questions on right need to be addressed to The Gersh Agency, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10036.


Exegesis-

Gestapo- the secret state police in Nazi Germany; known for its terrorist methodswww.wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Frederick the Great- skillfully employed the limited Prussian resources to make his kingdom the most powerful German state during the seven Years War (1756-63).
www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/people.../frederick.html
Charlatan- also called swindler or mountebank, is a person practicing quackery or some similar confidence trick in order to obtain money, fame or other advantages via some form of pretence or deception.
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlatan

Anteroom- an outer room that leads to another room and that is often used as a waiting room. Bing Learn more about "anteroom" ...www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anteroom

Geobbels- Joseph Geobbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. As one of German dictator Adolf Hitler's closest associates and most devout followers, he was known for his zealous oratory and anti-Semitism.
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Goebbels

Goering- Hermann Goering was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. Among many offices, he was Hitler's designated successor, and commander of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force).
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Göring

Stalin- The man who turned the Soviet Union from a backward country into a world superpower at unimaginable human cost.
www.pbs.org/redfiles/bios/all_bio_joseph_stalin.htm

Assize Court- is a criminal trial court with original and appellate limited jurisdiction to hear cases involving defendants accused of major felonies or indictable offences.
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cour_d'assises

Reich-is a German word cognate with the English rich, but used most often to designate an empire, realm, or nation. The qualitative connotation from the German is "(imperial,) sovereign state."
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reich

Guillotine- A wooden machine with a single blade used to behead criminals

Alpinist- a mountain climber
www.yourdictionary.com/alpinist



Fable

In the early 1940’s when Hitler régime was the dominant power over Germany a group of college students fought his power in hopes to end the regime forever. Sophie, a regular young girl without any true understanding of the destruction that prevailed upon Germany was quickly awaked by her brother Hans’s radical ideas. Together they and their friend Alexander, with whom Sophie has a slight love affair, and another friend Christopher joined together contemplating how they pass on their thoughts and create a movement which targeted Hitler and his army. After considering their options they wrote and dispersed a pamphlet named “The White Rose”. The papers contained their opinions and asked that others considered their thoughts and with that overthrow the regime and silence Hitler forever.
Meanwhile, Mohr the head investigator of the Gestapo sought out anyone who would defy the laws and arrest those who ventured to begin radical movements. Once word leaked of The White Rose, Mohr was determined to capture the culprits. However, although they were discrete in distributing the letters, they were cited and arrested. Mohr, interrogated the students, but it was his superior Mohler that forced him into coercing them to confess. They found guilty and sentence to death. All four students were beheaded for their actions but left behind a legacy of bravery.
In the end Mohr contemplates the reality of his situation and takes into account what he has done and for what cause.

Plot Summary-


Characters-

Sophie Sholl- Female. She is a young girl of 21. She attends college alongside her brother, Hans. Her features are ordinary allowing her to blend in with society. She worked as a youth leader for the Nazi party until she realized the horror it imposed on human life.

Hans Scholl- Male. Like Sophie he attends college. Once a soldier in the Nazi army he turned his life around and dedicated it to bringing down the régime itself.

Christopher Probst- Male. His mother was Jewish. Medical student.

Wilhelm Graf- Male. He studied medicine and worked as a medical orderly for various war deployments.

Alexander Schmorell- Male. His father was a German Doctor. Born in Russia then moved to Germany at a young age. Spoke both German and Russian. Was part of the military. Meet the Scholls and Graf at the University.

Robert Mohr- Male. Head of the Munich Gestapo

Anton Mahler. Male. Gestapo investigator

Bauer- Mohr’s adjutant.


Characters and Casting-

The White Rose is set in a specific time and place. In the 1940’s in Germany the war took over the country. The only way to be sure to be safe was to blend in with the masses. When casting this show it is important to seek out an all white cast. Non- traditional casting as well as color blind casting will only take away from the production in that it will add an additional distracting layer that is both unnecessary and inaccurate for the setting. Sophie should not be an extraordinarily attractive woman. She is regular in many aspects. Pictures can be found of some of the characters which should give a clearer idea as to the physical appearance that should be attained. Color blind casting would also be a major problem due to how Hitler viewed them. Since he found himself and all blond, white Germans superior it would be unrealistic to cast an actor of a different color. Race especially of Jewish decent can be cast, however, if they look Jewish the play would lose some credibility. If, for example, the White Rose authors looked Jewish they would be accused and sentenced immediately. To create the full effect the investigators should look as Germany as possible. It is also important that the actors are the appropriate age for each character. The investigators should be older than the students to insure that they seem stronger more powerful and that the students are more naive and innocent.