Details

'The Cuckoo and the Nightingale' is about Rudolph Hess, Hitler's Deputy Fuhrer during the infamous 'glory' days of the Third Reich. However, it is not strictly about the war years but about the man..the man who spent the last 41 years of his life in prison. The play probes into Hess's life, exploring his obsession with Marlene Dietrich and his relationships..not only with Hitler, but more significantly with the much younger American Captain Morgan, his guard for the last 21 years of his life. Morgan's personal quest was for the truth of Hess's secret - the truth of which may never be discovered. A complex character, Hess was a man who seemed unable to divorce illusion from reality, right from wrong and good from evil. Morgan cajoled and commanded his prisoner but Hess was a skilled manipulator and Morgan became his unwitting accomplice - it was a delicate situation and only one of them could survive.

Cast/Performers

Chris Matthews, Nigel D Hoyle

Creatives/Company

Design: Don Hood
Company: Showcase
Director: Paul Jerricho