What I liked
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What I didn't like
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My overall impression
Beautiful! The UK-based touring company Althea Theatre had a short run of performances at the Hollywood Fringe: their success with a string of bookings around California was our loss because this is a beautifully-written play and deserves a far greater exposure in the Los Angeles theatre scene. I would like to see it staged in one of the mainstream houses like the Ahmanson or Kirk Douglas – it is a beautiful two-hander that explores the concepts of home, returning to our birthplace, and creating new homes where we are. A kind of theatrical cousin to the notion of “if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with” (or love the place you’re in).
The two actors, Lilac Yosiphon & Sam Elwin, present beautifully understated performances, with very clear and subtle acting choices that have been refined in their years of training at top London conservatoires. Lilac is also the writer, double-hitter of talents that hint at her shining future ahead. She is definitely “one to watch” & deserves a place in the Hollywood Reporter-style articles of “30 Under [the age of] 30” as her writing suggests a great maturity and depth beyond her years.
One dominant theme of the play is the question of identity and what is ‘home’ for a modern Israeli Jew. Questions about Israel are present in the vast majority of “Jewish” plays (and I use that term lightly in this context, since the action takes place in a great British pub!). Lilac Yosiphon presents a brand new take on this Israel question, playing an Israeli Jew who loves her homeland but has no plans to return, albeit partly because her character is living in England on an expired working visa, so if she goes ‘home’, there is no easy way to get back to her new ‘home’.
The climax of the play is a beautiful song, sung simultaneously in Hebrew and English with perfect harmony. Its haunting and melodic tune has emotional depth that leads us back to our own heart to ask “where is home for you?”.
I would end the review by saying “Go and see this play” but last night was their last performance at the Fringe. Next best, look ‘em up online and watch out for their next performance in the city, or book them to come back. There’s no play like it.
