‘Frederick’ Rewrites the History of Fascism

Neat-freaks can pass on this one, along with those who prefer their history lessons reassuring. For other tastes, a lively, unruly project opened over the weekend in the low-ceilinged confines of Santa Monica’s City Garage theater space, going by the name “Frederick of Prussia/GeorgeW’s Dream of Sleep.”

Last year, playwright Charles A. Duncombe Jr. adapted Heiner Muller’s riff on “Medea” for a contemporary L.A. treatment of Greek mythology. This new production, directed by City Garage founder Frederique Michel, is a companion piece to “MedeaTexts.”

Again Duncombe uses Muller as a trampoline. Here he’s bouncing off “Gundling’s Life Frederick of Prussia Lessing’s Sleep Dream Scream,” Muller’s 1976 rumination on fascism through the ages.

Much of Act 1 presents a portrait of a fascist as a young man. Prince Frederick (David E. Frank) is subjected to the venal influence of his father, Frederick William (Richard Grove, strong in a variety of roles). The ambitious courtier Gundling (Damien DePaolis) instructs Frederick in selections from William Bennett’s “The Book of Virtues.” But the liberal arts education goes nowhere. But destiny requires the Hamlet-like prince to grow into a blood-soaked despot.

Sometimes obliquely, often ham-handedly, the material draws theatrical parallels between Frederick and Hamlet, Frederick and Adolf Hitler, Frederick and George W. Bush (Paul M. Rubenstein). Topped by a king’s crown, Bush is at once a presence and an absence in his own show. He dozes throughout, waking--with a scream, and a babbling “Godot”-like monologue--only near the end.

Act 2 fares far better than Act 1, taking some flying leaps into black comedy. Frederick becomes a modern-day financial guru and motivational speaker. Consumerist America, he finds, is just the place for his time-honored theories of management. In another segment, Frederick transforms into “Cowboy Fred,” host of a creepy, Third Reich-tinged kids’ show.

The show’s frequently a mess, and the mush-mouthed, wild-eyed lead performance by Frank, as Frederick, doesn’t help matters. Yet Duncombe’s material becomes more and more interesting as it goes. He may be drawing some rather crude parallels here, but there’s method in his madness. This is a history play very much of our time, with a few things to say about our country’s good--and not-so-good.

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“Frederick of Prussia/GeorgeW’s Dream of Sleep,” City Garage, 13401/2 4th St., Santa Monica (east of Third Street Promenade, in alley). Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 5:30 p.m. Ends Sept. 23. $20. Sundays, pay-what-you-can. (310) 319-9939. Running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes.

David E. Frank: Frederick

Richard Grove: Frederick William, others

Rachel Boyle: Wilhelmina, others

Damien DePaolis: Gundling, others

Paul M. Rubenstein: The Sleeping President

Maureen Byrnes: Dominatrix, others

Chris Codol: Presidential Aide, others

Ruthie Crossley: Dominatrix, others

Jed Low: Rabid Dog, others

Tara Tobin: Miss Trixie, others

Cristian Young MillerPrussian Officer, others *

Written by Charles A. Duncombe Jr., based on Heiner Muller’s “Frederick of Prussia.” Directed by Frederique Michel. Set, sound, lighting and media design by Charles A. Duncombe Jr. Costumes by Frederique Michel and Erin Vincent. Stage managers Jonathan Cobb, Ilana Gustafson, Kathryn Sheer.