Theatre Review: The Arab-Israeli Cookbook
Last night I walked over to the Traveling Jewish Theater to enjoy The Arab-Israeli Cookbook, a play by Robin Soans. The title of the play doesn’t quite suggest the powerful and beautiful story the play delivers. My friend Clive Chafer directed and produced this play consisting of eight actors portraying 42 different characters.
The set design was minimal and the props consisted mainly of traditional Arab-Israeli foods. The minimalist set-design served its purpose, allowing the viewer to focus solely on the characters and their stories. And what amazing stories they were! I found myself wide-eyed and riveted during the play’s two acts. Several times I anxiously held my breath and could hear my heart beating loudly in an intense response to the story unfolding in front of me.
TheatreFIRST, the non-profit theater company responsible for bringing us the Cookbook, presents a fantastic ensemble and a touching look into the lives of everyday Arabs, Israelis, and Christians in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. All eight of the actors were phenomenal, truly breathing life into each of his or her several characters.
The play is scheduled for 3 more performances: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It’s walking distance from the False Profit Soap Factory, and definitely a play worth seeing.
