NEW YORK—The history of World War II is filled with unsung heroes who did the best they could when facing unwinnable odds. Out of the Forest Theatre’s production of “The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria,” at 59E59 Theaters, tells one such man’s story: The battle a king waged against impossible circumstances.
In 1943, war is raging across Europe. Bulgaria’s King Boris III (Joseph Cullen) can either order his people to resist a Nazi invasion, at the cost of many lives, or he can choose to ally with the would-be occupiers and hopefully be allowed to continue life as usual. Boris’s preferred choice, that of complete neutrality, is not an option. After extended discussions and consideration, Boris chooses to accept the Nazi presence in his country, as the Third Reich has promised they will return land Bulgaria had lost in World War I. It’s a loss that still rankles the country, especially Boris, since his father was king at the time.
