By Fern Siegel (Posted 5/23/24)

History is a tricky business, as it is written by the victors. That means many important stories are often overlooked. The London-based Out Of The Forest Theater, in association with Something For The Weekend, is correcting that oversight.

Its focus Is Boris III, King of Bulgaria, who rose to power after WWI, and his efforts to save his country’s Jews from Nazi extermination. It's a fine line between irreverent comedy and the sorrows of history, but The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria, now off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters, pulls it off.

The 90-minute, no intermission production, is comprised of five multi-talented actors, who also supply Bulgarian and Jewish music. It’s a fast-paced ride through WWII — and while the production, by Sasha Wilson and Joseph Cullen, exists in broad strokes, it provides a provocative outline for the bravery of Bulgarians and the actions its vacillating monarch took to protect his people.

The co-authors don’t stint on the political hypocrisies and intrigue — or the pro-German preferences of the Bulgarian government. But it produces both comedy and commentary, creating an engaging and entertaining history lesson.

Joseph Cullen also plays Boris III, hitting the right notes of concern and uncertainty that establish his confusion and fear of Hitler. He’s joined by Clare Fraenkel, David Leopold, Sasha Wilson and Lawrence Boothman — all play multiple roles.

Bulgaria was allied with Nazi Germany in WWII — and it sent 11,343 Jews to Treblinka from the occupied territories in Greece and Yugoslavia, lands King Boris III perceived as his own. Twelve survived the war. “I did what I could,” Boris III laments, while the rest wonder: “Did you?”

Ironically, King Boris III wasn’t even Bulgarian. Nor were his father or grandfather. (That’s an irony he repeatedly points out; his father was Austrian, his mother Italian.)

Though Bulgaria’s 48,000 Jews managed to survived the war, they were subjected to brutal discrimination and forced labor. The Nazis’ Law for the Protection of the Nation refused Jews Bulgarian citizenship, leaving them stateless. Boris III tries various subterfuges to keep the Nazis out of Bulgaria and his Jewish subjects safe. 

While Bulgaria initially remained neutral between the Allies and Axis powers, as the Nazis conquer Europe, the King finds his options limited. The ensemble is quick to note when its retelling is historically accurate and when liberties are taken for effect.

Will Alder’s lighting, Sorcha Corcoran’s spare sets and Helen Stewart’s costumes complete the play’s success, augmented by Dessi Stefanova’s pitch-perfect musical choices.

The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, directed by Hannah Hauer-King, scores with lively pacing and occasional entrances into the audience. She smartly balances poignant moments with archly comical ones.

The clever play pays tribute to Bulgaria and the King. Their heroism at a time of great evil is worth remembering. Out Of The Forest Theatre has done a service to modern audiences by rescuing an important story from the ashes of Europe’s past.