Living in the Promised Land

April 20, 2006 by Sanjay.

I learnt today that Amitava, a high school classmate, has gained some repute as a critic and litterateur. And since punditry impels fame, he has a blog, wherein he talks about the playwright David Hare and his love of public speaking. Hare is perhaps most well-known for Blue Room, which starred Nicole Kidman’s bare behind on Broadway in 1998-99.

It amazes me that as that coolly analytical actress was acknowledging her sold out audiences’ fervent, albeit single-handed, applause, down the street in the Booth Theater, Hare was himself “starring” in another one of his plays - Via Dolorosa. (The same year another play, Amy’s View, also had  a successful Broadway run. It was quite the year for Sir Hare! And if polemic turns you on - I mean that in a good way! - check out Hare’s latest, Stuff Happens, currently running in New York.)

Via Dolorosa is a clever, yet empathically humane report of the Arab-Israel conflict. I hesitate to say anything more about it, for two reasons. First, it’s been extensively and more competently critiqued elsewhere. And second, because it is one of those dense monologues that is better experienced than talked about. (Confession: Plus, it’s also been 7 years since I saw it. Unless I cheat by renting the filmed version, I know I have forgetten many important bits.) One of the funnier bits in the play is where Hare says:

“[In England,] people lead shallow lives because they don’t believe in anything anymore. [In Israel,] in a single day I experience events and emotions that would keep a Swede going for a year.”

I thought of Hare’s quip when I spoke this morning with Ron, an Israeli colleague.  After we were done discussing the technical stuff, I asked in my best bedside manner what people around him were saying about last week’s suicide bombing of a falafel restaurant. The bombing was significant in being the first major attack in Tel Aviv after Hamas assumed power of the PA, and because it took place the day the new Kadima coalition was to be sworn in. Ron’s response? “Nothing. People are not talking about it.” Even being used to, as I am, Ron’s phlegmatic affect, I was taken aback and wondered, “Have the Israelis been incorporated into the Borg Collective?”

After more thought I decided that it was just Ron being a Tel Aviv-ian. Tel Aviv is a remarkable city, and perhaps the most remarkable thing about it are its denizens. They’re busy but friendly and surprisingly easygoing, seemingly adjusted to living in interesting times. Entering the opera house for an 8 PM performance (of what turned out to be a somewhat lacklustre but still entertaining Don Carlo) the guard asked me casually if I was carrying a gun! When I stammered back, “ggggun? nnooo! no gun!”, he let me carry on without another glance. A far cry from the TSA!

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