In Leni’s Last Lament, which swept top awards at its one-night-only performance at the United Solo Festival in Manhattan last March, Hitler’s controversial filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl poses as a misunderstood victim as she attempts to justify and sanitize her notorious past. Set in Leni’s editing room and presented as a macabre, comic cabaret with a live accordionist, the play is a wild, ironic ride full of hard-to-believe insights into this provocative figure as she reassembles her life to create a more palatable portrait.
Playwright Gil Kofman spoke with us regarding the production coming to Edinburgh later this year: making for one hell of a way to kick off our Have a Gander Festival Fringe coverage 2024. Leni’s Last Lament will run at the Assembly Rooms – Drawing Room.
Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show is?
Leni’s Last Lament – is a historical satire, comedy, and cabaret that explores the life of Leni Riefenstahl, who was Hitler’s notorious filmmaker. Gifted with incredible talent that was only outmatched by her ego and ambition, Leni was willing to overlook the Nazi ethos so long as she could make her films. Sadly, she helped brand and popularize the nascent Nazi regime with her infamous ‘Triumph of the Will’ documentary still studied at film school today. Leni lived to be 101 years old, and her life was replete with adventures and experiments, but never any apologies. She insisted she was blithely making art, and not responsible for the Fascism it supported. Her ostentatious denials are continually subverted by her ego throughout the play, as she keeps putting her foot in her mouth, saying absurd things like – “You would have loved Hitler in his day…before the power got to his head.” Equally absurd as it is trenchant the play offers a fabulous portrait of one of the greatest and earliest female filmmakers.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
Jodie Markell (Leni Riefenstahl) has workshopped the play from its earliest and formative days, along with the director Richard Caliban and Gil Kofman, to give a long continuous and organic development of the piece. That said, Jodie and Richard also knew our producer Raymond Gaspard from way way back. This shared history and camaraderie provided the team with great trust to experiment freely, wisely and widely. Every rehearsal was thrilling with humor and insights.
How does it feel coming to the Fringe?
The Fringe is super exciting as both a venue to perform and a platform to launch the play into the world. We hope that the many live performances will help sharpen this incredibly ambitious show like the strict training of an Olympic athlete, and prepare it for a world engagement.
There are over 3,000 shows at the Fringe. So, what sets your show apart?
Aside from great entertainment value (we hope that doesn’t sound immodest), our show is also transgressive in the best possible way – emotionally and intellectually, it transports the Audience into unexpected places.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
The show is as much a character study we can all relate to, as it is an historical piece. The melding of the two is what makes the show singular and memorable. I’d love for audiences to recognize glimmers of themselves in it, and reflect on how those elements are active and alive today. It’s also a very funny and witty show, with some song and dance to leaven the mood. We are very excited to see Audience’s reaction to it.
Your ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t there…
No Nazis haha… actually they might learn something.
Seriously, a crowd that’s hungry for something witty, entertaining, provocative, and a great performance to boot.
It’s an intense month, so where you’re able, how do you plan to relax, and are there any other shows you intend to see or want to recommend?
Would love to see an eclectic mix of shows. Then travel to the Highlands, and down to London.
In your ideal world, how can we improve the world of the Fringe, of performance, and the industry?
Make it year-round! Haha. Honestly, I’m not sure as we haven’t really embarked on it yet, currently intoxicated by all the arrangements.
Interested in being featured on our Have a Gander page? With many previews and Q&As lined up, we’re always happy to chat about including your show in future articles. Please do get in touch through the contact page to feature in an upcoming ‘Have A Gander’
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