“I Heart Hamas” Written and Performed by Jennifer Jajeh Directed by W. Kamau Bell At East to Edinburgh, 59E59 Theater C
It is difficult to be who one knows one is when others look for and often demand some alternative identity. Who we are and what we are continue to be issues not only important to us, but apparently to others as well. Others want to know our national origins, our true colors, our sexual statuses, our comings and our goings. Even after we tell them, the questions do not end. “Are you gay?” “Um. Yes.” “Are you sure?” Yes!” “How did that happen?” And so on and on and on. But that is my challenge with curious others and this review is not about my challenges.
Early in “I Heart Hamas,” writer and performer Jennifer Jajeh comments on those who are always curious about who she is and what she is: “But that’s not what you really mean when you ask me ‘what are you?’ You want to know where I’m from. That I’m Palestininan. And then maybe how I feel about that. Or rather how you feel about that.”
How others fee about Jennifer is complicated by what perceptions they have of her and she provocatively titles her performance piece with a challenging title which plays into the common perception that all Palestinians are dangerous. It is this perceived danger that makes the question about identity the most challenging and this fear intersects perceptions of all persons regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual status, or age.
The questions fearful persons ask, and demand answers of, cause pain, suffering – and perhaps most importantly – ager bordering on rage. Jennifer Jajeh’s “I Heart Hamas” skillfully uses all the rhetorical devices – logos, pathos, ethos – to attempt to help the audience understand the challenge of being who one is in a world filled with questions generated by fear and misunderstanding.
Jennifer gave her final East to Edinburgh performance on Sunday July 15 and she is no her way to the Festival. She will do well.
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
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