Five performances remain of this world-premiere production of a play by Keith Reddin about a disturbing corner of 20th-century American history.

The story centers on Arthur Rudolph, one of the hundreds of German rocket scientists whose Nazi pasts the U.S. government scrubbed after World War II in order to avail itself of their talents — which were also, in that Cold War, space-race era, coveted by the Soviets. (For more background, here's my preview of the show for CP.)

As directed by City's Tracy Brigden, it's a fast-paced, 80-minute show that smartly combines docudrama and entertaining theatricality: Despite its dozens of jumps in time, between scenes ranging from 1934 to 1984, the show plays as one long, seamless act.

I can't say for sure how much Reddin's Rudolph shares with the historical one, but to me the play felt most like a cautionary tale about valuing ends over means, even in pursuing one's dreams.

For an alternate take, here's Ted Hoover's review of Some Brighter Distance for CP.

The five remaining performances begin with tonight's, and include evening shows tomorrow and Saturday, and two weekend matinees. Tickets are $18-56 and are available here.

City Theatre is located at 1300 Bingham St., on the South Side.