The 1934 Drama ‘Crooked Cross’: When Belonging Comes With a Price

NEW YORK—The need to be a part of something greater than oneself, no matter who it may hurt is at the heart of the Sally Carson’s quiet yet powerful drama “Crooked Cross.” First performed in London in 1935, Carson adapted the work from her 1934 novel of the same name. The current production, presented by the Mint Theater Company at Theatre Row and ably directed by Jonathan Bank, marks the first time the play has been seen onstage in almost 90 years.

It’s Christmas Eve in 1932 Germany, and the Kluger and Weissman families are celebrating the holiday together. It’s a time of joy for all, especially as Lexa Kluger (Ella Stevens), the family’s only daughter and something of a freethinker, is happily engaged to Moritz Weissman (Samuel Adams), a young doctor. Moritz takes care of his aged father (Douglas Rees), a former professor and recent widower. Looking towards the future with hopes of perhaps finally finding fulfilling employment are Lexa’s brothers Erich (Jakob Winter) and Helmy (Gavin Michaels).

Yet it’s not long before friendships begin to fray as the influence of the already formidable Nazi party grows, whipping up a storm of antisemitism. Moritz, condemned by nothing more than his Jewish name, soon finds himself sacked from his position. Lexa is strongly urged by her brothers, both having since joined the Nazi ranks, to break off her engagement. She vehemently refuses.

Flush with pride over their new positions, Erich and Helmy begin to urge their father (Liam Craig) to join their cause. The elder Kluger and his wife (Katie Firth) have vivid memories of Germany at war and try to stay neutral for as long as they can. Their hope, one shared by Moritz and his father, is that everything happening in the country will quickly blow over.

A Time Capsule

“Crooked Cross” really strikes home when one considers the year the show premiered. The most destructive and far-reaching acts by the Nazis were still in the future. At the time, no one had any idea how it would all turn out. Carson went on to write two more novels involving the Kluger family before her death from cancer in June 1941.

Adding an extra layer of poignancy is watching the characters look to the future with a fervent dream of something better or of how safety might be found across the border in Austria. Of course, the audience knows full well what will happen in the coming years.

The one point that Carson keeps coming back to is the importance of belonging. When Erich and Helmy become part of the Nazi party and first appear in their uniforms, they display pride in their importance. This feeling comes after a long period of unemployment or work they feel is beneath them—such as being ski instructors.

Lexa reacts with sadness and, eventually, disgust, despising everything the Nazis stand for. The conversations Lexa has with her brothers form the emotional crux of the play as each side tries to convince the other of the rightness of their position.

Compelling Characters

Stevens is appealing as Lexa—the moral center of the story. She lives on her own terms—determined not to sacrifice her happiness for politics—and continues to see Moritz in secret. She placates Erich and Helmy by pretending to be interested in their friend and fellow party member Otto (Jack Mastrianni).

Lexa may be the ethical compass of the tale, but Helmy is the most compelling. Enthusiastic and impressionable, he’s at first seemingly happy at finding what he considers to be his true purpose. But as time goes on, it becomes clear that each time he tries to convince his sister what the Nazis are doing is right, he’s also trying to convince himself. Michaels does an excellent job of expressing Helmy’s inner doubts as he tries to become as enthusiastic a Nazi as his brother, despite what he actually feels.

Craig and Firth are good as the elder Klugers, who find they must change their positions in order to go along with prevailing attitudes. Adams and Rees do well as two men who must try to survive in the face of losing everything they hold dear.

The play is an intriguing time capsule that depicts the early stages of a worldwide nightmare. “Crooked Cross,” the title a reference to the swastika, looks at a time when people on all sides of the issue were caught up in something they couldn’t yet fully understand.

‘Crooked Cross’
Mint Theater Company
Theatre Row, Stage 4
410 W. 42nd St., New York City
Tickets: MintTheater.org
Running Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes  (one intermission)
Closes Nov. 1, 2025

Judd Hollander is a reviewer for stagebuzz.com and a member of the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle.

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