Naomi Shemer

Signposts, the play about Naomi Shemer, is not all that good as a play, but the actors and production were fine, and I certainly learned a lot a about her work. For one thing, if asked who wrote any Israeli song, your best guess is "Naomi Shemer" for words and music.

For her most-praised song, "Jerusalem of Gold," she wrote the words and sort composed e the music. I say sort of, because anyone who hears the Basque lullaby that inspired her, almost certainly unconsciously. will recognize the tune. According to the play, J of G is different enough that she would not have been guilty of copyright fraud, had the folk melody even been copyrighted or copyrightable. So the real shame is that she denied for so many years that there was any connection. Even when, near death, she wrote that she had undoubtedly heard the Basque melody before she composed J of G, she added nonsense about the origins of the folk tune. Why a woman who had composed and written so many songs would be so dishonest about this one, I do not know.

But the melody remains.

Copyright 2018 Jane S. Fox

Ismailia

The Israeli play Ismailia rather reminded me of the 1971 film HaTarnegol, but why? I suppose because both are about men who, years later, see themselves formed by army experience.
Before the play, in addition to the Jerusalem Theater's usual warning to turn off cellphones came a ringtone and a warning from the Cameri players that even an SMS (text) is distracting. In the middle of the play we all heard that same ringtone. I waited for someone on stage to answer a phone. Instead an usher ran silently down an aisle to a member of the audience I hope felt suitably embarrassed. My hope of that is small, however.

Copyright 2018 Jane S. Fox

Samson

At the Jerusalem Thater's Mikro venue we saw a fascinating, well-acted play about Samson. Not at all religious, but ver concernbed with the Bible in a way I think happens only in Israel and only among the secular. A few lines before the beginning of the first act suggested we loook on this as a novel based on the few chapters in the Bible.

Perhaps the most memorable line in the play was put in the mouth of the scibe. What is the truth about you? he asked Samson. He answered his own question, It is what I write down.

Copyright 2018 Jane S. Fox