Stand Down the March

What I liked

Charlie McCrackin, as the Nazi professor, was a true stand out and gave a jaw-dropping performance. He was 100% believable and a joy to watch (though his character’s views were anything but enjoyable).

The final scene between the professor Karl and the student Liv was wonderful.

There is no doubt that Naomi Brodkin can write! I expect many great plays in her future.

What I didn't like

I would have loved if the show focused more on the debate of “Can you fire someone for their beliefs?” and “the divide between alternatives facts and historical truth.” It definitely touched on these matters, but it lived distinctly in the world of college students struggling with identity. Although young people grappling with identity is an interesting subject matter, I would have been more engaged in the piece if it focused less on characters finding their “thing” and more on the bigger complex issues.

My overall impression

In Stand Down the March, a metaphorically lost college student discovers that her college professor is a Holocaust denier and her fight to get him fired helps her find herself. The premise promises intellectual discussion and debate, but since the play focuses mostly on the college-age characters, we spend more time dealing with their millennial question of “who am I?” than the broader more intense issues the story teases.
The script is beautifully written by Naomi Brodkin and was expertly acted by the cast that smartly balanced humor and drama.