Trotsky in Exile by Peter Weiss (Vintage 1971 Edition)

“Trotsky in Exile” is a play by German playwright and artist Peter Weiss, first performed in 1968. The play is a fictionalized account of the last years of Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky’s life, when he was living in exile in Mexico and under threat from Stalinist assassins.

The play is structured as a series of dialogues between Trotsky and various figures from his past and present, including his wife Natalia Sedova, his son Lev Sedov, and his former comrades in the Bolshevik Party. Through these dialogues, Weiss explores Trotsky’s revolutionary ideology, his views on the Soviet Union under Stalin, and his personal relationships and struggles.

Weiss portrays Trotsky as a complex and conflicted figure, torn between his revolutionary ideals and the harsh realities of exile and political isolation. He also highlights the human cost of Trotsky’s struggle, particularly on his family, who are shown grappling with their own sense of displacement and loss.

Throughout the play, Weiss incorporates elements of Brechtian epic theater, using music, dance, and other theatrical devices to create a sense of distance and alienation. This style serves to underscore the play’s political and ideological themes, highlighting the ways in which history and ideology shape individual lives and experiences.

Overall, “Trotsky in Exile” is a powerful and thought-provoking play that offers a nuanced and complex portrayal of one of the 20th century’s most important political figures. Weiss’s writing is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant, making the play a compelling exploration of the human cost of political struggle and revolution.