The Last Moustache sells out at Grahamstown

Adolf Hitler - the man responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews, and millions of others. As chancellor and dictator of Germany, the mighty Fuhrer was at the centre of Nazi Germany, World War II in Europe and the Holocaust.

Widely considered the biggest evil of the 20th century - and one of the most gifted orators - Hitler's enigmatic character still fascinates the world to this day.

His reign of terror finally ended on 30 April, 1945, when he committed suicide together with his long-time partner, Eva Braun, to avoid capture.

But what if he didn't? What if the Nazis had one more deception left to play - one that could see them rise to power again, and conquer an unsuspecting world?

This is exactly the alternate universe born in the mind of NotOnTV's Greg Viljoen. Written and directed by Greg, and produced by NotOnTV's Jo Watson, The Last Moustache takes us to a world in which the Fuhrer was successfully assassinated in the Wolf's Lair headquarters in 1944. But the Nazi propaganda machine devised a cunning plan to convince the world that he survived - they hired a troop of actors to take on the real-life role of Hitler himself. One of these actors was Heiner Schmidt, a once highly acclaimed German theatrical performer, played by Tim Plewman.

The role of a lifetime

This is the story of that actor - and how he was hired to play the role of a lifetime, with only the recognition of a handful of Nazi buffoons to look forward to.

Through Heiner, we are offered a true insight into what it takes to be the most absurd dictator that ever lived. That maybe this man, who had people across the world frozen in fear, was the biggest fan of Walt Disney films and chocolate cake - that his greatest speeches were crafted and rehearsed until every detail was perfect, and that he was impotent, covered in a rash and sometimes unable control his bladder.

Keeping the audience glued to his every word, Tim Plewman brings this one-man satire to life. No stranger to one-man shows - and best known for his award-winning and iconic Defending the Caveman - Plewman transports the audience back to 1945 with flair and ease.

What perhaps also makes Plewman ideal for this role is his ability to be equally at home in both comedy and drama - as the first and only actor in South Africa to win a Best Actor award for the farce genre of theatre. "The impersonation of various characters within smaller satirical stories was so entertaining that it often left the audience bursting out in laughter and quickly quietening down so as not to miss another word," explained Schoeman.

The truth is often very far from it

The Last Moustache is more than just a unique perspective on Nazi propaganda; it tells a story that reminds us that even today, what we are sold as the truth is often very far from it. Making us privy to just how the smoke is made and where the mirrors are placed - the show makes us think about the lip service, misinformation and blatant lies that have today become common policy.

Schoeman said: "Despite the quirky humour of German mannerisms and jokes, the harsh ending left me shocked and saddened after growing somewhat fond of the character. It leads one to reflect on the pressure of facade and propaganda versus 'truth' in politics, and gives insight into the power of Hitler, vis a vis our own powerful politicians and the roles they play as political 'characters'."