Taking Sides

'Taking Sides' written by Ronald Harwood in 1995, is remarkably contemporary in its complete refusal to do what it says in the title. Two American officers examine conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler in a 'denazification' investigation in 1946. David Horovitch is occasionally excessively boorish as officer Major Arnold, but neither he nor the Jewish Lieutenant Wills can pin Michael Pennington's supercilious Furtwängler down, or set him free.