This riveting
play is loosely based on the 1986 Hindawi case, a true incident where a
handsome Jordanian Arab planted a bomb on the El Al plane carrying his pregnant
Irish fiancée to Israel.
While author Lucile Lichtblau uses this case as a template,
she has changed the facts to question and explore the ambiguity of love and
betrayal. Here the girl is English, the young man an Israeli Arab, their affair
is deep and passionate. The mystery is in the motivation of the Arab. Is he a
terrorist setting out to callously murder over 300 people, or a confused young
man faced with a catastrophic dilemma when his family learns of his disgrace?
We are given
both sides of this conundrum and all the evidence is laid before us but never
answered definitively. We must decide. Each of us can bring our own values and
life awareness to this story. That is the author’s intent with this clever
exploration of human motives. When people lie and their falsehoods bring temporary
happiness to another, is this evil or kindness? When people lie to extract
confessions from reluctant witnesses, is this fair or is the search for the truth
more important? See the play and decide for yourself.
Directed with
brilliant intensity by Marya Mazor, with superlative performances by Elizabeth
Knowelden as the naïve Eileen, Steven Schub as the devious Ali, and Allan
Wasserman as the enigmatic investigator Dov. Set design is by Kaitlyn Pietras,
lighting by Pablo Santiago, sound by John Zalewski and costumes by Sarah Ryung
Clement. Produced by Chet Grissom, Carlyle King, and Kevin Shipp.
At the Road
Theatre, in the NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North
Hollywood. Extended through May 10th. For tickets: 818-761-8838 or www.roadtheatre.org.
Photos by John
A. Lorenz
Also reviewed
in the April issue of NOT BORN YESTERDAY.
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