"Dogs" at The New York International Fringe Festival
“Dogs” By Ido Bornstein Directed by Shlomo Plessner Reviewed by David Roberts, Chief Critic Theatre Reviews Limited
Animals, dogs for example, can be bred and trained to exhibit a variety of characteristics: aggressiveness; gentleness; protectiveness; independence; guidance; or indifference. These characteristics are more difficult to “extinguish” than they are to “reinforce.” The brilliant new play “Dogs,” currently playing at The New Ohio Theatre as part of the New York International Fringe Festival, tackles the theme of how difficult it is to transform the human animal’s traits of hatred, prejudice, cruelty, and aggressiveness into a new character that embodies unconditional and non-judgmental love.
“Something in the singing” brings us together; helps us get along. This is an extension of the concept that those in exile (or slavery) have used since time immemorial. In exile, Jews and Palestinians sang and sing their songs of hope to keep them together and to keep them focused on deliverance. Slaves in the American South created and sang spirituals that not only kept them together but, covertly, rehearsed for the community the belief that the end of slavery and the slave-owner would ultimately not be tolerated by universal justice.
One Jewish brother convinces his brother that mounting a musical version of “Romeo and Juliet” is more important than installing a Jacuzzi in their parents’ home. He believes that music and song could not only sustain one community but reconcile that community to another (the Arabic community) which was considered to be the enemy.
The idea blossoms when the brothers include a third Jewish friend and two Arabs. But then the idea withers. The musical version of a tragedy that brings two warring families together is the perfect trope (here an extended metaphor) for the hope of reconciliation.
It is a bumpy ride for these five men caught in millennia of border wars, religious rancor, and stubborn misunderstanding. The leads of the musical do not die here. What reconciles these five men is not death but birth, escape from the debris of hatred and conflict. Powerful images of men emerging from trash bags and male actors becoming pregnant with hope make this production visually and intellectually satisfying.
This well conceived, tightly directed, and beautifully choreographed play does not re-tell “Romeo and Juliet:” it profoundly reinvents its theme. Can humanity leave mistrust, hatred, and prejudice and be reborn into a “new world” of hope? Is that optimistic? Yes. Is it unrealistic? Some would think so. Is it necessary? Absolutely – before Arab-Jew, gay-straight, black-white, male-female warring blasts us into a global exile.
DOGS
Presented by TheaterCan and The New York International Fringe Festival. Written by Imo Bornstein. Directed by Shlomo Plessner. Music by Galit Florentz. Choreographed by Ronit Ziv. Scenic design by Dana Tzarfati; costume design by Hadas Motzeri.
WITH: Benjamin David Elder (Shahar), Lavi Zytner (Gili), Mahmoud Mora (Abed), Hai Maor (Nisim), and Rami Kashy (Rabbiah).
All performances take place at The New Ohio Theatre, 154 Christopher Street in New York, NY. Tickets are available at www.fringenyc.org or 866-468-7619. $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Senior and Fringe Junior tickets available at the door for $10. Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes with no intermission. For more information visit www.theatercan.com
Remaining Show Dates Sunday, August 19th @ 5:00 pm Tuesday, August 21st @ 2:00 pm Thursday, August 23rd @ 8:30 pm Friday, August 24th @ 10:15 pm
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Sunday, August 19, 2012
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