Went to theatre tonight in a bitch of a mood. We opened last night. It has been a bit of a struggle -the whole way. Some from the episodic qualities of the script itself, some from the deconstruction of the script, some from actors dragging the process down, some from the managements’ disrespect in not paying people in a timely manner. The choir came just one week ago and they carry the soul of the piece. Because the play within the play aspect of the script was in Arabic, none of the Americans, including the playwright were able to understand the nuances of that deconstruction and directors here take far more leeway with cuts or edits to a playwrights words then is accepted in our country.
The opening night show had way too long of blah blah speeches to start. The show already seemed long with two sermons at the end of the play delivered not by vibrant vivacious black preachers, but by Palestinian actors who really don’t have the concept of that culture or of that persona in particular – especially such icons as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Sr. Not to say that either of them couldn’t get to it eventually as both of them have great qualities, and Kamel can usually get miracles out of people, but the show didn’t seem to hang right (for other reasons) and Kamel has been struggling through this whole process, keeping his audience in mind trying to get his actors to give it all they have so he can see it in order to shape it. The playwright couldn’t understand why the play is not simply done straight and Kamel knows it cannot be. It doesn’t matter what a Palestinian theatre does, it is always seen in reference to the situation here. (or a filmmaker or all other artists probably). That in itself changes the whole picture and how to approach something.
The other reality was the actors had lots of difficulty grasping the situation of racism, as they do not have it in their culture much to how we might see it through our personal lenses. I mean isn’t there great tension between Jews and Arabs? But they stress over and over that they do not have a problem with Jews but with occupation and now fragmentation. Divide and Conquer, a war strategy so systematically played out here. Because of that they didn’t see the Civil Rights Movement in America as a beautiful example of people uprising for justice through love and their religious moral fight but saw it as yet another example of America’s brutality because that they could relate to – it is so very real to them from their occupiers. And we, through our major support to Israel’s military and our vetoes in the UN, support that occupation. That in itself makes for a difficult starting point. Kamel understands the Movement’s essence and power but it was hard to transmit that to the actors-generally speaking.
From key people and audience response it was a too long of a show and didn’t get the message that was wanted out there. How much of that was due to that long long start of speeches by this person and that speaking about non-violence is not known. So Kamel cut the end and tried a new ending and a new beginning. This was extremely painful for the playwright and not ok as it was the play itself that was cut and the whole climatic ending as he saw it. And he is the name on the program as writer. As for me, we had chosen the metaphor of being blind as a way in. Someone with no eyes can still see, just through their ears and skin and other ways. But I had such difficulties with playing the person of power, the one in control- the director when I wasn’t able to look people in the eye and no one was treating me as if I was the director. Plus, even with a beginning of showing me as someone blind and my obvious issues of never seeing people face to face and basically talking through my ears, I was simply seen as a strange actress. Not by all, mind you, some put two and two together, but many did not- even a few of the actors.
So I hung onto my bitch of a sad/angry mood until I got on stage so I could use it to find my character. I didn’t want to be nice positive Mik. And I dropped being blind, which of course caused a big panic in me as I did not even have time to run the piece in my head but luckily I have lots of training in spontaneity and pulling things out in front of people. And it worked. I found my character. I found the energy and frustration and control. At one moment I threw something different at someone to see what would happen to make it alive and very very real and it was. They didn’t see it that way. Simply thought I made a mistake a big mistake. I did not. I knew exactly what I was doing. But it’s not the way I like to work. It’s not that respectful so the next show I will explain what I was doing and why and see if that changes that particular dragged out moment. But I am a moment to moment actress and will play the director and respond accordingly on stage. So I hope they stay on their toes. And me as well.
As for the play itself, Kamel said Dr. Carson gets to decide which version of the show he wants and Kamel will honor his decision. The first show tomorrow is at 2 and I believe we will be dong the cut version one more time and then my guess is, (having spoken to Dr. Carson before he retreated to his hotel) back to the longer version with some internal cuts inside the speeches and hopefully a few tightening or trimmings from other moments for the 7pm. That will be our final show in Jerusalem before we head into the West Bank.
With love and art, patience and perseverance and always…growth.
