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Globe and Mail, Canada
16 Feb. 07
Going out: THEATRE
A bisel of this, a bisel of that
MICHAEL HARRIS
Special to The Globe and Mail
( extract)
What are niche festivals for? Do they promote cross-cultural understanding, or do they coddle and preach to the converted?
In the case of the Chutzpah! Festival, it's a little of both. Although this year's edition draws 19 productions from Israel, the United States and across Canada (including a fistful of world premieres), it runs almost exclusively within the Jewish Community Centre. Nevertheless, the lineup of dance, theatre and music is daring enough to draw curious Gentiles as well as lifelong members of the JCC.
Romeo's Séance
Story Direct from Israel, Tomer Sharon and the Israeli Contemporary Quartet perform a theatrical adaptation of Elvis Costello's album The Juliet Letters. When a Verona professor answers missives addressed to Shakespeare's ultimate lover, a catalogue of variegated romance unfolds. Conceived and directed by Atay Citron, Séance combines covers of Costello songs with original monologues.
Niche notes "The Chutzpah! Festival offers me a chance to perform without having a commercial draw," Sharon says. "When things are too artistic, it's hard to raise money."
Details English world premiere. Feb. 18, 20 and 21. $12 to $20.
The Chutzpah! Festival starts tomorrow and runs to March 3
at the Jewish Community Centre, 950 W. 41st Ave., 604-257-5145.
The full schedule is at http://www.chutzpahfestival.com.
http://www.olamale.com/htmls/romeo.htm
with
Tomer Sharon (Tomash)
and
The Israel Contemporary String Quartet
Stage Version Created and Directed by Atay Citron
Romeo's Séance is a stage version of The Juliet Letters – a disc by Elvis Costello and his collaborators, members of the distinguished Brodsky String Quartet. The music was originally recorded in 1992. It is based on a newspaper story, according to which a certain professor in Verona was answering the many letters that had been addressed to Juliet Capulet, the Shakespearean heroine of Romeo and Juliet. The professor apparently felt obliged by compassion to respond, in Juliet's name, to lovers from all over the world, who were seeking advice and support. This enigmatic story gave birth to a musical piece that is made of twenty letter-songs, each being a monologue of a different character, either writing or receiving a letter.
In the stage version, Costello's songs are interpreted by the actor and stand-up comedian, Tomer Sharon (Tomash). In each song, Tomash offers a brief sketch of a different character – men and women alike. The show is an emotional rollercoaster ride that is both moving and funny and is based solely on letters dealing with love and death.
Tomer Sharon, who is a well-known television star in Israel, is seen here for the first time as a dramatic actor-singer. With him on stage are the members of the Israel Contemporary String Quartet – Hadas Fabrikant (1st violin), Tali Goldberg (2nd violin), Amelia Hoalnder (viola) and Hila Epstein (cello). These young musicians, who specialize in contemporary chamber music, have already won prizes, the acclaim of the critics and the appreciation of both the audience and professional musicians. In this show, they add acting, singing and dancing to their performance as string players.
Romeo's Séance is an interdisciplinary performance. While music is the dominant element in it, visual images are of primary importance .A t.v. cello (homage to the artist Nam June Paik, who invented this instrument in the '60s) is also in use, fusing visual and aural images as part of the mise-en-scene.
The piece was conceived, developed and directed by Atay Citron, formerly the principal of the School of Visual Theatre, Jerusalem (1993-2000), artistic director of the Acco Festival of Alternative Israeli Theatre (2001-2004) and presently, chair of the Department of Theatre, Haifa University.