Metro Weeklyby Tim Plant
Published on 05/17/2007
This is the root of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf's story: ''I am a transvestite.'' Brave words, even now. Imagine saying them in Germany during the rise of the Nazi regime and later under Communist rule.
This act of bravery is what first piqued playwright Doug Wright's interest in 1992 when he learned of Mahlsdorf through a childhood friend. Sensing a tale of unparalleled moxie, self-fulfillment, and stage-quality, Wright risked almost everything in an attempt to capture her story. The question remains however, how much of it is just a story?
