LA Review: 'Sarah's War'Freedom Theatre West at the Hudson Theatre
Reviewed by
Neal Weaver
February 20, 2012
Now, in "Sarah's War," playwright Valerie Dillman has written a fictionalized account of Corrie's death and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that she hopes will be "less polarizing" than other versions, focusing as it does on the conflicted responses of Corrie's mother and other relatives. Dillman's play is provocative and full of affecting scenes. The title character (Abica Dubay) is depicted as an idealist so naively passionate that her death seems almost inevitable. Sarah's mother, Ann (Terry Davis), is tormented by conflicts and a desperate need to know what really happened. And Danny, the driver of the fatal bulldozer (Will Rothhaar), becomes a tormented figure with deep-seated doubts about the justice of his mission. Dillman's decision to tell her story obliquely, with a nonlinear narrative, sometimes makes it hard to grasp the facts or to know which characters we're meant to focus on. Nevertheless, director Matt McKenzie has mounted a briskly effective production, giving equal sympathy to all the warring factions. Dubay eloquently depicts Sarah's passionate dedication and her distress and confusion when her family and local Palestinians misunderstand her actions. Davis carefully maps the anguished mother's shifting attitudes, and Rothhaar captures the pain of the Israeli soldier. There are also fine performances from Lindsey Ginter, as Sarah's father; Allan Wasserman, as her loving but disapproving uncle; Adria Tennor Blotta, as the sister who bitterly resents Sarah's involving their family in events she regards as none of their business; Dina Simon, as a Palestinian woman who regards Sarah as a foolish, misguided interloper; and the rest of the fiercely dedicated cast. Presented by Freedom Theatre West at the Hudson Theatre, 6529 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Feb. 11–March 18. Thu.–Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m. (310) 657-5511 or www.levantinecenter.org. |
||
More LA Theatre Reviews
LA Review: 'Sideways the Play'
In “Sideways The Play,” at Ruskin Group Theatre, swilling with overgrown boys in wine country is enjoyable, but we’r... More »
ADVERTISEMENT
Sponsors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back Stage Video
