Chaitania Hein

Ursula and Our Conversations Chaitania Hein

Ursula and Our Conversations - The Nazi Era is a story about two women and their conversations, spanning 25 years, from 1976-2001. One woman is German and from Berlin, Ursula, who at the age of 15 in January 1933, joined the Hitler Youth, and followed their motto, "The Fuhrer leads, we follow!" The other woman is American, Constance, who becomes Ursula's daughter-in-law, the writer, and inspiration for Ursula to tell her story. Together they unravel Ursula's psyche as Ursula tells her story to Constance, from how she was swept up in Hitler's propaganda; how she became conscious of what Hitler really stood for; how she held secrets from her husband and family out of fear of the retaliation if it was discovered that she had told someone, even 50 years later; how the brainwashing at times, made her see her daughter-in-law as the American enemy, even a spy; how she desperately wanted to repent, and how it took her until 1997 and a breakdown, to reveal to Constance her deepest shame and her worst secret: that she was still proud that she had worn the uniform, "I was a professional as a translator for the Third Reich, not just a volunteer."; how Constance, helped her find that she was more than that, asking Ursula, "What is it you want from all of this for yourself?" "I want to know that I am a part of humanity that is good and caring? Constance, tell my story to the world, maybe it can help." "Ok, I can do that for you."; how at the final months of her life, they knew that Ursula must tell everything she knew, if not out loud, to her God", then, she would be free of Hitler's hold on her (the brainwashing), and her hope for Redemption was possible. A history to be talked about for hundreds of years! A story for our times; its relevance today is astonishing!The Screenplay was adapted as a Staged Reading, accompanied with movement and a live original score. The Staged Reading was presented in May 2018 at the Isaac Studio in the Taproot Theatre, Seattle, WA, which was met with acclaim.