WARNING: The front two rows will get wet!
Thrust into the peculiar and fast-paced world of theatre, the scene is set immediately for us: a young ambitious playwright (Iftach Jeffrey Ophir) approaches an all-too-familiar eccentric artistic director (Erez Drigues) with his new play. As playwrights and theatre directors rarely agree with one another, the comical aspects of this production write themselves from the outset. As he prances around the stage, the artistic director seems to have no obvious control over his movement of thoughts, sporadically shouting out ‘Hamlet!’ and mulling over plums.
Discovering that the playwright is the son of a mysteriously deceased Shakespearean actor, who ‘died on this very stage’ during a performance of Hamlet, the artistic director continually questions the playwright’s motives for his play, is he seeking affirmation from his dead father? Sublimely raising the hopes of the aspiring writer only to repeatedly crush them in the very same sentence, the disputes between the pair are thoroughly entertaining.
The disjointed jolting and swerving of the artistic directors’ movements leaves you wondering why he is behaving in such a bizarrely unhinged manner, The reason why this play is so successful requires a spoiler alert, so all I shall say is that it takes an abrupt surge in a different direction. It is at this point that everything clicks into place and we can really appreciate the immense technique and skill that Ophir and Drigues possess as they transform a comical, albeit confusing, start into an awe inspiring, titillating resolution. With revelations of sexual affairs, love and murder, the exuberance of this production is overwhelming, performed with considerable panache from both talented actors.
Ending with the fatal duel scene from Hamlet is greatly satisfying as the story completes a full cycle. I urge you to purchase your tickets immediately, and remember your umbrella if you’re brave enough to venture into the front two rows!
