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Look at the last two Jews in Afghanistan
MY BROTHER'S KEEPER
Pleasance Theatre
FAMILIARITY breeds contempt in this comic tale of cultural disharmony set against the war-torn reality of recent world events.
The experience of the last two Jews left in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban government provides a unique point of view into the nature of isolation and religious persecution.
The ancient Jewish community of Afghanistan dates back to the fall of Babylon but has now been largely driven out.
Humour in the face of adversity has been a facet of Jewish life all along. The play’s sharp language is nuanced and textured with wit and irony. The characters’ inner neuroses and mutual animosity generates external comedy.
Actors Kemal Sylvester and Andre Lillis are able to capture this true-to-life dynamic in all its glorious contradiction.
Director Oliver Mears’ staging is problematic, however, within the confines of this space.
Much of the action is placed on the floor with the actors sitting and lying down.
Because of the way in which the audience area is situated in relation to the playing space, large segments of the play are obscured from view behind the rest of the audience.
The most prominent feature of the first scene was the abundant head of hair sitting in the front row.
Unfortunately this also serves to obscure an important subject.
Some 850,000 Jews have been forced to flee their homes in Arab countries as refugees. It is a topic which deserves to see the light of day.
Until Dec 3
020 7609 1800 |
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