All About Jewish Theatre - The Leopold and Loeb Story Comes to Life Again

Theatre critic Irene Backalenick covers theatre for national and regional publications. She has a Ph.D.in theatre criticism from City University Graduate Center. Her book "East Side Story--Ten Years with the Jewish Repertory Theatre" (based on her doctoral thesis) won a first-place national book award in history. Other awards in journalism and theatre criticism include a New York Times Publishers Award (received while writing for The New York Times). Her professional organizations include the American Theatre Critics Association, Association for Jewish Theatre, Outer Critics Circle (on the executive board), Drama Desk, Actors Equity Derwent Committee, and the Connecticut Critics Circle e-mail: IreneBack@aol.com Web : www.nytheaterscene.com

Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story
Book, music and look by Stephen Dolginoff
Directed by Michael Rupert
Cast: Matt Bauer (Nathan Leopold) & Doug Kreeger (Richard Loeb)
Stephen Bogadus, John McMartin (Parole Board voices), Michael Rupcrt (radio newscaster)
Set Design: James Morgan
Costume Design: Jennifer Paar
Lighting Design: Thom Weaver PianistL Eugene Gwozdz

York Theatre at St Peters, 619 Lexington Avenue

Musical Numbers :

Prelude
Why/ Nathan
Everybody Wants Richard/ Nathan
Nothing Like a Fire/ Richard and Nathan
A Written Contract/ Richard and Nathan
Thrill Me/ Nathan and Richard
The Plan/ Richard and Nathan
Way Too Far/ Nathan
Roadster/ Richard
Superior/ Nathan and Richard
Ransom Note/ Richard and Nathan
My Glasses-Just Lay Low / Nathan and Richard
I'm Trying to Think/ Richard and Nathan
Way Too Far (rcprisc) / Nathan
Afraid / Richard
Life Plus Ninety-Nine Years / Nathan and Richard
Finale: Thrill Me/ Nathan

How could two Jewish boys---wealthy, privileged, educated, brilliant—commit murder? Yet it happened. It was the celebrated Leopold and Loeb case of 1924. I suppose, if there’s something to be learned here, it is that Jews can be just like any other people—capable of the range of good and evil which characterizes all mankind.

And now that story of murder, mayhem, madness returns to the New York stage, playing at off-Broadway’s York Theatre. Stephen Dolginoff has taken the Leopold and Loeb story (touted to be “the crime of the century”) and turned it into a taut, compelling musical. Stripped of the verbiage and psychobabble which has surrounded the event over the years, Dolginoff gets at the heart of it.

In 1924 Nathan Leopold(1904 - 1971) and Richard A. Loeb (1905 - 1936) murdered a young boy, one Bobby Franks, ostensibly for ransom money but actually for the thrill of it. How appropriate that Dolginoff (who created the book, music and lyrics) would name his show “Thrill Me”! Here is Richard Loeb, the psychopath, and Nathan Leopold, his adoring flunky. , In this twisted homosexual relationship, the two fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Scions of wealthy, respected Jewish families of Chicago, the pair were university students bent on law careers. But in fact their real pursuit lay in the petty burglaries and fires that Loeb concocted. For Loeb, sexual arousal came only by way of crimes, and that arousal persisted only as stakes were raised ever higher--from theft and arson to murder.

Though the actual facts (according to newspaper accounts of the time) differ somewhat from Dolginoff’s version, the writer has used dramatic license to create a strong piece. And in this production, under Michael Rupert’s unerring direction, the story sizzles. It plays out with just the two characters, with Doug Kreeger as Loeb and Matt Bauer as Leopold. Both turn in strong, affecting performances (with their acting outstripping their singing). Kreeger’s performance proves to be the more interesting, but by virtue of his character.

Dolginoff’s music and lyrics (though not striking in themselves) do enhance the story. When, for example, Loeb (Kreeger) sings “Roadster,” thus luring the young victim into his car, it is indeed a high, chilling moment.