  bent is a 1979 play by martin sherman. it revolves around the persecution of gays in nazi germany, and takes place during and after the night of the long knives. the title of the play refers to the slang word "bent" used in some european countries to refer to homosexuals. when the play was first performed, there was only a trickle of historical research or even awareness about the nazi persecution of homosexuals. in some regards, the play helped increase that historical research and education in the 1980s and 1990s. the play starred ian mckellen in its original 1979 west end production, and richard gere in its original 1980 broadway production. in 1989, sean mathias directed a revival of the play, performed as a one-night benefit for stonewall, featuring ian mckellen, richard e grant, ian charleson, and ralph fiennes. after receiving critical acclaim, mathias directed a full run in 1990, with ian mckellen, paul rhys, and christopher eccleston, which won the city limits award for revival of the year. in 1997, martin sherman adapted bent into a film of the same name, which was directed by sean mathias. ==plot== max, a promiscuous gay man in 1930s berlin, is at odds with his wealthy family because of his homosexuality. one evening, much to the resentment of his boyfriend rudy, he brings home a handsome sturmabteilung man. unfortunately, it is the night that hitler orders to assassinate the upper echelon of the sturmabteilung corps, to consolidate his power. the sturmabteilung man is discovered and killed by ss men in max and rudy's apartment, and the two have to flee berlin. max's uncle freddie, who is also gay, but lives a more discreet life with rent boys to satisfy his desires, has organized new papers for max, but max refuses to leave his naÃ¯ve boyfriend behind. as a result, max and rudy are found and arrested by the gestapo and put on a train headed for dachau concentration camp. on the train, rudy calls out to max as he is taken away to be beaten, so rudy is brought back and beaten
1979_in_LGBT_history Holocaust_plays LGBT-related_plays Persecution_of_homosexuals_in_Nazi_Germany_and_the_Holocaust Plays_adapted_into_films Plays_by_Martin_Sherman