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What We did to Weinstein

This has split the critics.

Well, I’ve only read two reviews but Benedict Nightingale of the Times gives it 4 stars and Lyn Gardner of the Guardian gives it 1 star and a very scathing review.

They both make valid points. Lyn argues Ryan Craig is writing “inept string of cliches, stereotypes and bad Jewish jokes” although concedes “There is potential here, but Craig’s play is complicated rather than complex and treats both Jews and Muslims as tabloid stereotypes rather than real characters”

Benedict argues Craig is is using “intelligent exploration” and is writing about the here-and-now

“A dramatist can’t do anything more here-and-now than write a piece in which an Israeli soldier called Josh captures a suspected suicide bomber, and a Muslim fanatic called Tariq asks his sister, who is afraid of taking the Tube, why she “bleeds for a handful of white people” and leaves London for jihad training.”

I have sympathy for both points of view. The issue tackled, the crisis of faith, religious conflict and Israel-Palestine are complex. The extrememist battle, I think is one of the three major problems facing the world, which won’t go away [rich-poor gap and global migration my other two] as it’s a cycle which now has no end, an ill-defined beginning and an unending string of possible (mis)intrepretations.

It’s important that Craig explores these arguments as personified by his characters. Josh who leaves England to become an Israeli and fight and Sara, who wrties and argues against the use of Israeli force.

But, they do often stray into well-rehearsed arguments that have the touch of the sterotype about them. So I can see why Lyn would get so annoyed.

Still, the play does provke thinking, the relationship between the older actors is quite touching, and the directing is paced well.

I think people will bring their own biases to the play and will either be stimulated by the debate or feel it’s been too stereotyped.

Lyn points to Mike Leigh’s new play (see earlier post) as being a much better investigation into the crisis of faith. David Hare’s Via Dolorosa is a much more personal perspective on the Israel-Palestine conflict. But this play, even with its well-rehearsed arguments has a place too.

I’d be really interested to know what Tim Supple and Ryan Craig would reply to Lyn Gardner with.

At the Menier Chocolate Factory, until Nov 12 : 020 7907 7060

comments

2 Responses to “What We did to Weinstein”

  1. Theatre » Director’s reply to critics on October 5th, 2005

    [...] As I mentioned, I hope Tim Supple would be allowed to reply to Lyn Gardner’s review of What We did to Weinstein at the Menier. [...]

  2. benjamin on October 5th, 2005

    I thought this was a very poor production and did not enjoy it. It was full of cliches, and bad Jewish jokes and would not recomend it.

  • About me

    I'm a playwright and investment analyst. I have a broad range of interests: food, gardening, innovation & intellectual property, sustainability, architecture & design, writing and the arts. I sit on the board of Talawa Theatre Company and advise a CIS investment trust on socially responsible investments.

  • Recent Work

    Recent plays include, for theatre: Nakamitsu, Yellow Gentlemen, Lost in Peru, Lemon Love. For radio: Places in Between (R4), Patent Breaking Life Saving (WS).

  • Nakamitsu

  • Yellow Gentlemen