With a flyer covered in swastikas and a name guaranteed to raise eyebrows, audiences may feel they know what to expect when sitting down for this one woman show. Billed as 'a true tale of strife and reconciliation' 'Hitler's Li'l Abomination' tells the tale of Annette Roman, her Holocaust survivor father, and ex-Hitler youth member mother. It moves away from the farce and cheap jokes that may be expected (though these are present) to the telling of intimate family stories and tales of national conflict and identity.
One such tale, in which Roman describes her father's strict approach to bedtimes when she was a child, goes from poignant and harrowing, as one of the father's Holocaust bedtime stories is recounted, to hilarious, as Roman impersonates her father's abrupt manner. Having said this, the more serious and truthful sections of the piece are the most successful, with Roman's very personal delivery resonating with the audience. Some jokes fall flat with the sparsely filled room and feel out of place and self-consciously macabre between the more heart-felt stories. Different characters are distinguished through the use of voice and, although this are successful, at times these impressions last a bit too long. Such is the case with Tante Hannah, making us long for Roman to return to her own voice.
Some disjuncture between the stories - which span decades, generations and geographical boundaries - may be mildly confusing to an audience, but they add to the feeling of identity confusion that Roman experiences. As she moves into her adulthood, Roman examines every element of her life from her relationship with a white-supremacist to her volatile reaction to some offensive protesters; 'Hitler's Li'l Abomination' is honest to the n-th degree.
Surprisingly profound and historically engaging, this show exceeds expectations as a piece of education and family conflict.
