Concert of pro-Israeli Tunisian cancelled after protests
TUNIS (WJC)–A musical show scheduled for the Carthage International Festival has been called off after its actors sparked outrage on the internet for performing for Israelis. Selim Baccouche, actor and organizer of the musical ‘Nouraniet’, canceled his show after his co-actor, Tunisian performer Mohsen Cherif voiced support for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video posted on ‘Facebook’. “Long live Netanyahu! Long live Bibi!” Cherif shouted at the concert for Israelis of Tunisian origin, using Netanyahu’s nickname. Festival organizers said the show had been canceled because Baccouche was “indisposed”. A press conference was also called off.
Baccouche himself became the target of criticism after a video showed him and other Tunisian artists performing for Israelis at a concert during a pilgrimage to the Ghriba synagogue in Djerba. Thousands of internet users angrily demanded that the musical be canceled and some called for Cherif to be stripped of his Tunisian citizenship. Unions, including those representing musicians, condemned the “slur on national sentiment”, calling it a “shameful act” for Tunisians, who are generally hostile toward Israel. Tunisia and Morocco are the only two Arab states with a sizeable Jewish community.
Baccouche defended the video and said he was only responding to demand from a public for whom “all Tunisian artists, without exception” perform each year. “Why this video appeared one week before my show…I do not understand it,” he declared on the website ‘Kapitalis’.
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress
Patriarch who stripped Romanian Jews of citizenship during Nazi era honored on coin
BUCHAREST (WJC)–Romania’s National Bank has been strongly criticized after minting a coin which depicts the late patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Miron Cristea, who as prime minister stripped many Jews of their citizenship in 1939. Cristea is one of five Romanian Orthodox Church patriarchs the bank has honored with a silver-minted coin.
However, after a complaint from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Mugur Isarescu, the bank’s governor, agreed to review the coin. “We did not wish to send a racist, xenophobic or anti-Semitic message. We respect the values of the nation and democracy,” he was quoted as saying.
Isarescu said the bank was making “a clear distinction between the patriarch and the prime minister”. But he said it had agreed to set up a commission that would “analyze the situation and come up with a solution”. He added the coin may be scrapped if it is considered to be anti-Semitic, which is illegal in Romania. “The decision should be made public in a few days’ time,” he said.
Cristea headed the church between 1925 and 1939, and was the country’s prime minister in 1938/39. His government amended the citizenship law, thereby stripping 225,000 Jews (over a third of Romania’s Jewish population at the time) of their citizenship. In a study published in 2004, an international commission of historians said that Cristea had “demonized the Jews” and called for their deportation. The panel also established that some 270,000 Romanian and Ukrainian Jews died between 1940 and 1944, during Marshal Ion Antonescu’s pro-Nazi regime, while some 25,000 Gypsies were deported, half of whom died.
After the new coin was minted, the Romanian central bank received a letter of protest from a director at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. DC. Radu Ioanid, who runs the museum’s international archives, said he was “shocked” by the coin and called for it to be withdrawn. The coin also sparked protest from Romania’s Jewish community. “I can’t understand how the patriarch managed to pass through the filter. It is known there are black stains connected to his attitude towards the Jews,” said Robert Schwartz, representative for Romanian Jews in the city of Cluj.
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, December 10, 1954, Part 2
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 3
- Albert Adatto and his bride Ethel Schwartz
Ethel Schwartz Married to Albert Adatto in November
Ethel D. Schwartz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Schwartz, was wed to Albert Adatto, son of Mr. and Mrs. I Adatto of Seattle, in an all white candlelight ceremony in Beth Jacob Synagogue on November 28th. Rabbi Baruch Stern officiated and Iris Leeds was soloist.
White flower bells flanked the altar and white satin canopy. The bride’s white chiffon velvet gown featured a nylon tulle skirt and train with handmade chiffon roses outlining the neckline and waistline. Her illusion veil was crowned with a Juliet cap of pearls and brilliants and she carried a bouquet of white orchids and lillies of the valley.
Her attendants, also in white, were Arline Mihlman as maid of honor; Carole Simmons, Phyllis Mollick, Margie Goodman, bridesmaids. A touch of pink was added by flower girl, Eileen Schwartz’ gown. Reitha Stokes and Maxine Gerson had charge of the bride’s book.
Jack Adatto of Seattle was his brother’s best man, with brother Jery acting as usher. Other ushers were Al Sanft of Seattle and Matt Strauss. The bride’s brother, 2 ½ year-old Ronnie, was ring bearer.
At the dinner-dance in the Beth Jacob Center following the ceremony, Mrs. Schwartz received in a dinner length gown of gold brocade in soft beige tones. She wore matching hat. Mrs. Adatto wore ice blue iridescent crystalette with a white jeweled cloche. The three-tiered wedding cake was ornamented with a miniature reproduction of Swan Lake.
The couple returned from their honeymoon in Las Vegas and Palm Springs in time for the 50th anniversary of the bride’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Altman, and will make their home at 4188 ½ Oregon St.
Among the out of town guests were Mr. and Mrs. N. Adatto and Mr. Sam Azose of Seattle; Mrs. Joseph Leeb and son, Billy, Mrs. Max Selkin, Mrs. Sam Sperling, all of New York; Mr. and Mrs. Loui Schissell of Oakland, formerly of San Diego; Mr and Mrs. Louis Altman of Elsinore.
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Personals
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 3
Abe Gurwitz, brother of Zel Camiel, was given a testimonial dinner in Los Angeles for his work on behalf of hospitals. More than 300 people paid tribute to Mr. Gurwitz and 450 trees were planted in Israel in his honor. Zel spent the weekend with his brother.
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The Mission Valley Country Club was the scene of two gala affairs honoring bride-to-be, Barbara Solomon. Hostesses Mmes Manuel Hoffner, Al Solomon and Leonard Zlotoff entertained Barbara at a bridal shower at which 50 women attended. Thirty of Barbara’s young friends were guests at a miscellaneous shower given for her by Sondra Schoenkopf, Isabel Bank, Harriet Nestor, and Edith Packer.
A Mr. and Mrs. Party will honor Hal Hoffer, Barbara’s fiancé, on Sunday, December 12th. 20 couples will attend the party given by Mrs. Bernard Lewis in the home of her mother, Mrs. M. Feldman.
On December 18th Mrs. Daniel Orlansky and Mrs. Irwin Sklar will entertain Barbara and 20 of her friends at a luncheon in Mrs. Orlansky’s home.
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Kohn-Rosenberg Marriage Told
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 3
Announcement is made of the marriage of Marilyn Carol Kohn to Mr. Dan Yale Rosenberg on Sunday, December 5, in an informal ceremony performed in the study of Temple Beth Israel by Rabbi Morton J. Cohn, with only the immediate family attending.
The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Edith Townes of this city and the late Morton L. Kohn of Cleveland and Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Rosenberg is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Meyer Rosenberg of Stockton, Calif.
Mrs. Rosenberg is a graduate of Tucson High School, Arizona, and attended the University of Miami in Florida, and the University of Dayton.
Mr. Rosenberg is a graduate of College of the Pacific, and obtained his Master’s Degree in plant pathology at the University of California at Davis. He is a member of Sigma Xi, American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Phytopathological Society. He is employed as plant pathologist for the Calif. Dept. of Agriculture.
After a two-week honeymoon at Carmel and San Francisco, the couple will reside at 3306 Prospect Ave. in Riverside.
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Nancy Weitzen Weds Hershel Feigelson
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 3
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Weitzen announce the marriage of their daughter, Nancy Clare, to Herschel Feigelson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Feigelson of Birmingham, Alabama. Rites were solemnized on November 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Franciscan Room of El Cortez Hotel with Rabbi Morton J. Cohn officiating.
The bride’s satin gown featured pointed sleeves and bodice encrusted with pearls. Her princess cap also was pearl covered and she carried a white orchid and lilies of the valley on a prayer book.
Attendants were Joseph Weitzen, brother of the bride, who served as best man and Mrs. Joseph Weizen, matron of honor. Mrs. Weitzen wore muted blue with a full tucked skirt and shoulder bow trim.
Pauline Gleason Leib supplied the music and among her selections played “Your Eyes Have Told Me So” which was also played at the wedding of the bride’s mother.
The table décor for the family dinner immediately following the ceremony was done in autumn tones. Mrs. Ben Mazer, aunt of the groom from Birmingham attended the wedding.
After their honeymoon in Las Vegas, the couple will make their home in Birmingham.
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Cradle
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 3
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac (Izzy) Lias proudly announce the arrival of a son, Leonard Gary, on November 21, weighing 8 lbs 12 oz. He was welcomed into the household by his two older sisters, Mary Ann, 5, and Lynn, 3.
Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Barney Pearl. Mr. and Mrs. O.L. Lias, paternal grandparents have lived in San Diego for the past year, arriving here from Israel.
A Bris and open house was held throughout the day November 29 in the home of the baby’s parents. Over 100 guests attended. Mohel Simon L. Schwartz performed the ceremony and Rabbi Monroe Levens officiated.
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Meeting new parents and a new home at the same time, Janet Irene made her appearance to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel N. Hosch on November 22 at 5:25 p.m. Miss Janet’s mother reports the young … (REST OF STORY CUT FROM ARCHIVES}
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Classified
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 3
For Sale. Chayote Plants & Fabulous Palestinian Lima Beans – My Chayote Squash is ready to plant now! The Palestinian lima bean lants will be ready to plant in February. The beans are planted once in 12 to 15 years. You have two crops every year. The Chayote plant is 5 years old and the vine is 120 feet long. One plant will produce 100 lbs. Visit my farm and see these unusual plants and the crops – Moses Kaufman, cor of Ida Ave., el Mar, Calif., Back of Race Track, Box 196.
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Room for Rent – Private bedroom in fine home near transp. North Park. Call AT -2-6274.
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(Hebrew Home)
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 3
Application for admission to the Hebrew Home for the Aged may be made through the Jewish Social Service Agency, 333 Plaza, BE 2-5172.
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Calendar
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 3
11th –Birdie Stodel Oneg Shabbat Tea—Alice Birney School – 1 p.m.
12th – U.J. F 21st Annual Meeting and Tercentenary Celebration – Casa del Rey Moro House of Hospitait—5;00 p.m.
13th – Bay City B.B. –United (REST OF STORY CUT FROM ARCHIVES}
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(Marriage Reason)
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 4
A wealthy screen star had recently married a young starlet, and two of his director friends were talking it over. “Well, he finally married her,” one said. “He sure spent enough cash on gifts for her.”
“Yes,” the other director said. “He married her for his money.”
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Temple Sisterhood Plan Chanukah Program
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 4
Temple Beth Israel Sisterhood will hold its Chanukah luncheon for mothers and children on December 22 at 11:45 at the Temple Center.
Mrs. Herbert Eber, program chairman, has planned an interesting and entertaining program for the meeting, featuring a puppet show by John Crawford and folk songs by Joanne Sackheim. In addition, a representative from each of the youth groups of the Temple will give a report on the activities of their groups.
A delicious luncheon will be served by the luncheon Committee headed by Mrs. Sydney Goldstein and her co-chairmen, Mmes. Ernest Haas and Richard Silberman. Reservations may be made by calling Mrs. Ben Ferber, AC 3-6990 or Mrs. Seymour Rabin, AC-2-8426.
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Couples Club Reminder
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 4
The Couples Club’s next Social will take place on Saturday, December 18th at 8:00 p.m. in Tifereth Israel Center. A Chanukah scene and decorations will be the prevailing theme and traditional latkas will be served.
An open game night is also on the agenda – canasta, poker, scrabble, etc. will be available. Members and visitors, after choosing their game, will be helped to form a table. For further information please call Irving Yates, CY-5-9020; May Radding, AT 2-8032.
For more information about the New Years Party, call Jean Finkleman, HO 6-0389
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Unveiling
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 4
Lavena Komins, daughter of Rebecca Markowitz, invites all her friends and relatives to attend the unveiling of her mother’s stone Sunday, December 19, at 2:;00 p.m. at the Home of Peace Cemetery.
Rabbi Baruch Stern will officiate. Transportation may be obtained at the Beth Jacob Synagogue from 1 to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
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Bar Mitzvah
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 4
Norman Bard, son of Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Bard, will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, December 11, at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. Rabbi Monroe Levens and Cantor Joseph Cysner will officiate.
His parents and aunts and uncles, Messrs. And Mmes. Al Breitbard, Edward Breitbard, Robert Breitbard, William Breitbard and Joe Weitzen will be hosts at Kiddush and luncheon in the Synagogue following the services.
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T.I. Sisterhood Set Chanukah Workshop
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 4
Tifereth Israel Sisterhood plans a Chanukah Workshop at their Luncheon Meeting on Tuesday, December 14, in the Synagogue Lounge. Each Sisterhood member and friend attending is asked to bring a gift not to exceed 25c for a Chanukah gift exchange.
Traditional Chanukah foods will be prepared by the Hostess Circle, according to Lillian Zemen and Lillian Weiss, Co-chairmen.
Arlene Orlansky, Program chairman, announced that Synagogue nursery children will participate in the program. As the Sisterhood is sponsoring a Home Decoration Contest, Chanukah decoration ideas will be featured at the meeting. Prizes and ore details of the contest will be announced at the meeting on December 14.
For luncheon reservations please call Lillian Zemen, AT 4-0274; Lillian Weiss, AT-1-4571; or the Synagogue office, AT-1-5529.
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Famous Rabbi Makes Statement On Centers
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 10, 1954, Page 4
Jewish Community Centers “have brought order out of chaos in American Jewish community life,” Dr. David de Sola Pool, distinguished rabbi of New York’s Congregation Shearith Israel (Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue) asserted last month.
Dr. Pool made the assertion before Jewish community leaders from all parts of the country at the national observance of the American Jewish Tercentenary in New York City,.
The Jewish Community Center, Dr. Pool said, “affords a measure of relief to synagogues. It is no longer necessary for many synagogues to organize their own centers. The Center communalizes all activities formerly independent, competitive and strangulating one another. It removes competitive jealousy. It has brought order into a community formerly distracted and distraught.”
“Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” is sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg. Our “Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” series will be a regular feature until we run out of history. To find stories on specific individuals or organizations, type their names in our search box.
The British are bashing! The British are bashing!
By Bruce S. Ticker
Bruce S. Ticker
PHILADELPHIA –This is a tale of two David Camerons. Each of them is known as the prime minister of Britain and leader of the Conservative Party.
There is the David Cameron who proclaims himself a “Conservative Friend of Israel” on the Web site of Conservative Friends of Israel, which promotes support for Israel and conservative ideas in Britain.
Then there is the other David Cameron who bashed Israel and European leaders during his visit to Turkey on Tuesday, July 27, and met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This David Cameron uttered these words about Israel:
“The situation in Gaza has to change. Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp…The Israeli attack on the Gaza flotilla was completely unacceptable. I have told prime minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu we will expect the Israeli inquiry to be swift, transparent and rigorous. Let me also be clear that the situation in Gaza has to change.”
The Guardian, a London daily newspaper, suggests that Cameron’s hissy fit amounted to an overheated intensification of past criticisms of Israel. Cameron told the House of Commons on June 28: “Everybody knows that we are not going to sort out the problem of the Middle East peace process while there is, effectively, a giant open prison in Gaza.”
No mention of Israeli Sgt. Gilad Shalit’s four-year imprisonment in Gaza. Or Hamas’ rocket attacks, weapons smuggling and its pledge to destroy Israel. Or that Hamas murders, tortures and terrorizes its own people. Or that the flotilla committed an act of war by attempting to breach the blockade. Or that Turkish terrorists on the Mavi Marmora attacked Israeli commandos.
The Guardian also reported that he accused France and Germany of double standards for refusing Turkey membership in the European Union while expecting Turkey to guard Europe’s borders as a NATO member.
Of that situation, it turns out that Turkey operates a blockade of its own – against Cyprus.
Cameron forgets to mention that the EU has barred Turkey from membership partly because it denies ships from Cyprus entry to Turkish ports. Cyprus is an EU member and the northern part of the island is occupied by Turkey.
Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 in the wake of a power struggle with Greece; Cyprus is populated mainly by ethnic Greeks and Turks, respectively 80 percent and 20 percent.
Most of us would have noticed if past British prime ministers attacked Israel so viciously. In fact, with their English accents and refined manner, who can imagine a British prime minister behaving in such an abrasive manner? Cameron’s words were so blunt he could not even sound ironic or sarcastic.
Cameron’s style – if you can call it a style – was pure bullying. To He is intellectually dishonest and contradicts himself in a number of areas. Worse, his rant is downright dangerous.
Past prime ministers like Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher, whose ideologies were far apart from one another, conducted themselves with a measure of class and decorum. Of course, their jobs were more stable. Cameron sounds like a desperate politician who expects to be in trouble in the next election. He must understand by now that his fellow Brits did not return the Conservative Party to power out of love for it.
The Conservatives exploited a set of circumstances to oust the Labor Party from controlling Parliament a few months ago. Fresh from their defeat, Labor leaders are carefully examining what went wrong. Cameron knows that continuation of Conservative power is by no means ensured in the next election.
One would think that the leader of the Conservative Party would be more supportive of Israel, or at least more careful with his words.
The Wall Street Journal relates this explanation from Wolfango Piccoli, analyst at Eurasia Group, a political-risk consultancy: “Support for Turkey is nothing new, but the economy is the bottom line. One of the aims of the Cameron administration is to raise the level of exports – and Turkey is part of that.”
At Israel’s expense, no less.
Perhaps the Liberal Democrats, his coalition partner, influenced him. Or he is mining votes among British Muslims. Maybe he hopes that liberal Britons will consider voting Conservative.
After this performance, how can Cameron make any claim to credibility? He is prime minister of one of the world’s greatest powers. Does he believe that his hypocrisy will go unnoticed?
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Bruce S Ticker is a Philadelphia freelance journalist
Daren Scott just right in ‘The 7 Year Itch’ at New Village Arts
Daren Scott and Jacque Wilke in 'The 7-Year Itch' Photo: Adam Brock
By Carol Davis
Carol Davis
CARLSBAD, California —It’s not unusual to credit Daren Scott with the great photos seen in so many of my reviews. He’s one busy guy with a camera strapped over his shoulder, seen around town at so may theatre companies, clicking away and arranging groups for theatre memories. Lest we forget though, he’s also one heck of an actor.
Scott is starring in, is in every scene and carries the show, The 7 Year Itch , from beginning to end in a solid production at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. His timing is impeccable, his look is refreshing and his facial expressions are timeless.
George Axelrod’s three act play The 7 Year Itch that opened on Broadway in 1952 is probably best known for the film version (1955) starring Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell, directed by Billy Wilder. It’s the one with the famous shot of Monroe standing over the subway grate with her dress blowing above her knees from a passing train. (It has been said that that was the last straw in their marriage for hubby Joe DiMaggio).
Richard Sherman (Daren Scott) sends his wife of seven years, Helen (Melissa Fernandes) and their son Ricky (Jonah Gercke) on vacation to Maine (they live in NY) to escape a suffocating heat wave. While relaxing, listening to the ball game and proofreading a book by Dr. Brubaker (Eddie Yaroch) on his patio, a huge tomato plant falls from an upper floor balcony and nearly hits him on the head.
It turns out the apartment is being rented by The Girl (Jacque Wilke) in the apartment just above him. We learn that she is a model in town about to make a television commercial. On one of her jobs she posed nude in a specialty magazine. Richard, a magazine editor just happens to have that edition on his bookshelves. Yes he did check it out.
Two things happen that turn Richard on his head. Based on some findings in the good Dr’s book that after seven years men get a yen to look for excitement outside the marriage (The 7 Year Itch) Richard’s imagination turns 180 degrees. His subconscious takes him places never before gone and The Girl upstairs, who comes down to rescue her plants, is interested in having an affair but not marriage or a commitment. She’s sexy looking, ditsy and carefree. Sounds like a perfect deal for Richard’s dalliances.
He is 38 she is 22. He has fantasies that he is irresistible conjuring up all kinds of situations to bed this gal while a trio of muses, (Kelly Iverson, Frances Regal and Lisa Dempsey) some of the other women in his life like his secretary reprimand and act as his conscience. To justify his wandering mind he fantasizes that his wife is having an affair with their neighbor Tom (John De Carlo). She pooh pooh’s his claim laughing her way in and out of his dreams.
While all this is playing out in his head, we are privy to see what he’s thinking and that’s where the fun comes in. The problem Richard has is that in his imaginary conquests he is suave and smooth. In real life, he’s a klutz. The transitions from real to imaginary aided by Jason Bieber’s lighting, keeps the play afloat and Scott is the perfect candidate for all this fun.
Locked in the time warp of the 50’s The 7 Year Itch is no doubt dated but let’s not get confused. It might have been groundbreaking news in the 50’s but our appetites for scandal doesn’t exclude extra marital affairs and all the sensation that goes along with them on our 24 hour news cycle.
That said director Amanda Sitton, associate artist at NVA isn’t far off the mark by concentrating more on the fun side than the morality side. Everyone can leave drawing his or her own conclusions about the goings on in the male libido. This reviewer, for one, doesn’t have the patience for that and thoroughly enjoyed watching Scott squirm and worm his way out of a predicament conjured up in his own mind.
Scott is the perfect foil for this show. He’s funny, engaging and just fits the bill as the poor lonesome bachelor facing a mid life crisis. Melissa Fernandes is a strong presence in both the dream sequences and in the moment. Once again, her timing and body language fit the mood of the play and she sails through as Helen. Eddie Yaroch is great as the fussy and flummoxed doctor and John De Carlo’s is a hoot as the might be cheatin’ neighbor.
Jacque Wilke a fine actor in her own right is ditsy enough as The Girl, she just didn’t convince. Her voice is too high pitched for clarity. I found myself straining to understand half of what she said.
Tim Wallace’s three level set works well on the long NVA stage and Susan Kerner’s cloths for the characters are period right, if I recall. Adam Brick’s baseball tidbits are fun.
Sitton (a talented actor in her own right) and company should have a ball with this light summer fare through August.
Congrats to NVA on their 10th birthday.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: July 29th-Aug.22nd
Organization: New Village Arts Theatre
Phone: 760-433-3245
Production Type: Comedy
Where: 2787 State Street, Carlsbad, Ca 92008
Ticket Prices: $25.00-$30.00
Web: newvillagearts.org
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Theatre critic Davis is based in San Diego
Raucous, rambunctious and riotous, but not a rip-roaring revival
Ann Noble and Scott Roberts in 'Bedroom Farce'
By Cynthia Citron
Cynthia Citron
LOS ANGELES — Whole lotta screamin’ goin’ on. And it isn’t coming from the audience. In fact, the audience becomes quieter and quieter as the evening wears on. Not a good sign for what is supposed to be a rip-roaring comedy.
Sir Alan Ayckbourn has written 73 plays, so it stands to reason that not all of them can be smash hits. Even Neil Simon has a bad day once in a while. But I’m not sure if Ayckbourn’s 1975 play Bedroom Farce, now onstage at the Odyssey, should be blamed on him or the actors or the director.
Darcy Prevost has designed an interesting set—three distinctive bedrooms that reflect the personalities of the couples who inhabit them. From left to right they are Nick and Jan (Scott Roberts and Ann Noble), Malcolm and Kate (Jamie Donovan and Kate Hollinshead), and Ernest and Delia (Robert Mandan and Maggie Peach). And bouncing between them and creating havoc wherever they land are Trevor and Susannah (Anthony Michael Jones and Regina Peluso).
As the play begins, Malcolm and Kate are preparing for a housewarming party in their new flat. Jan is preparing to come, but without Nick, who is laid up with a back problem and whose dialogue consists almost exclusively of groans and plaintive wails of “Why me?” And Ernest and Delia, who are Trevor’s parents, are preparing to go to dinner to celebrate their umpteenth wedding anniversary.
Trevor and Susannah have a troubled marriage, which might be partially explained by the mantra that she repeats obsessively: “I’m attractive! And I’m not afraid of people!” When she and Trevor arrive at the party—separately—they begin fighting immediately, and so viciously that all the other party guests go home.
Trevor and Jan have had a previous relationship and they eventually wind up in an impulsive and passionate kiss that the consistently overwrought Susannah oversees. More screaming.
And so it goes. The play, ostensibly, is about how four different couples handle marriage, with Ernest and Delia, the elderly couple, providing the template for successful companionship. Delia is full of wisdom, giving her daughter-in-law Susannah pithy bits of advice, like “Don’t tell him anything you don’t have to,” and “Keep him well fed and his clothes clean.”
The play is too improbably farcical to be all that funny, but it might be more amusing if played well. The younger actors, however, are uniformly screechy, with everyone continually exhibiting unmodified hysteria. With a little less volume and more moderate pacing, more variety in delivery, the humor, such as it is, might have been better received. As it stands now, only Ernest and Delia and the bedridden Nick do justice to their roles. And, unfortunately, director Ron Bottitta doesn’t do justice to his.
And finally, you get a clue that there is something wrong with a comedy when the funniest things in it are the vintage ‘70s outfits put together by costume designer Kathryn Poppen.
Alan Ayckbourn’s Bedroom Farce will continue at the Odyssey Theatre, 2055 South Sepulveda Blvd. in West Los Angeles, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 through September 26th. Call (310) 477-2055 for reservations.
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Citron is Los Angeles bureau chief for San Diego Jewish World
Resolution on U.S. money for UNRWA makes way through House
Shoshana Bryen
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In January 2010, the Canadian government announced that its aid would be redirected from UNRWA to “specific projects in the Palestinian Authority that will ensure accountability and foster democracy in the PA.” The total amount of money was the same, but the president of Canada’s Treasury Board said, “It is now being redirected in accordance with Canadian values.”
In the U.S., House Resolution 5065, known as the UNRWA Humanitarian Accountability Act, was introduced in Congress in April 2010 (it has 26 co-sponsors) to help ensure that the $267 million American tax dollars spent on UNRWA is spent in accordance with American values. The bill requires that funds go to UNRWA only if the following is certified:
- No official, employee, consultant, contractor, subcontractor, representative, or affiliate of UNRWA is a member of a Foreign Terrorist Organization; has propagated, disseminated, or incited anti-American anti-Israel, or anti-Semitic rhetoric or propaganda; or has used any UNRWA resources, including publications or Web sites, to propagate or disseminate political materials, including political rhetoric regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict;
- No UNRWA school, hospital, clinic, other facility, or other infrastructure or resource is being used by a Foreign Terrorist Organization for operations, planning, training, recruitment, fundraising, indoctrination, communications, sanctuary, storage of weapons or other materials, or any other purposes;
- UNRWA is subject to comprehensive financial audits by an internationally recognized third party independent auditing firm and has implemented an effective system of vetting and oversight to prevent the use, receipt, or diversion of any UNRWA resources by any foreign terrorist organization or members thereof;
- No UNRWA-funded school or educational institution uses textbooks or other educational materials that propagate or disseminate anti-American, anti-Israel, or anti-Semitic rhetoric, propaganda or incitement;
- No recipient of UNRWA funds or loans is a member of a Foreign Terrorist Organization; and
- UNRWA holds no accounts or other affiliations with financial institutions that the United States deems or believes to be complicit in money laundering and terror financing.
The bill includes a sense of the Congress section, stating:
- The President and Secretary of State should take the lead in holding UNRWA to account, but should involve other donor nations;
- UNRWA’s definition of a ‘Palestine refugee’ should be changed to that used for a refugee by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; and
- Responsibility for those refugees should be fully transferred to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
When your representative holds his/her Town Hall meeting this Congressional recess, please go and ask whether he/she is willing to be a co-sponsor.
Let us know what you find out.
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Bryen is senior director of security policy of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. Her column is sponsored by Waxie Sanitary Supply in memory of Morris Wax, longtime JINSA supporter and national board member.
If cars can have Jewish plates, boats can have Jewish names
A Jewish boat
SAN DIEGO–Our inveterate Jewish license plate scout Melanie Rubin didn’t let a thing like water stop her search for finding Jewish vehicles everywhere.
Rubin spotted a boat named “Chavala”–reminiscent of the affectionate way in Fiddler on the Roof that Tevye referred to his daughter, Chava. She sent us the photo, asserting: “This is like a license plate.”
We agree, and we’ll add it to the online collection.
Cantor seeks suspension of U.S. aid to Lebanese Armed Forces
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– House Republican Whip Eric Cantor on Monday issued the following statement regarding Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces’ (LAF) relationship with Hezbollah:
“Since 2006, America has provided the Lebanese army with $720 million in aid. This includes stocks of M16 rifles, missile launchers, grenade launchers and night-vision devices. The purpose of the assistance was to build up a Lebanese fighting force that would serve as a check on the growing power of the radical Islamist Hezbollah movement.
“For the past few years, the U.S. and the international community looked the other way as the lines between Hezbollah and the Lebanese military and government became blurred. But the days of ignoring the LAF’s provocations against Israel and protection of Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon are over. The LAF’s unprovoked attack on the Israeli defense forces in undisputed Israeli territory demands a sweeping reassessment of how we distribute our foreign aid.
“Lebanon cannot have it both ways. If it wants to align itself with Hezbollah against the forces of democracy, stability and moderation, there will be consequences. Congress must convey that message by blocking the roughly $100 million in 2011 assistance to the LAF until we find out the details of last week’s attack and can certify that the Lebanese army is not cooperating with Hezbollah.”
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Preceding provided by Congressman Cantor
Israeli photographer freed by Libya
JERUSALEM (WJC) — Rafael Haddad, an Israeli citizen arrested and imprisoned in Libya in March while photographing Jewish sites, has returned to Israel after being freed in a deal reportedly engineered by Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Haddad, who has dual Israeli-Tunisian citizenship, had gone to Libya in March to photograph former Jewish community buildings in Tripoli for a Jewish heritage association. He was arrested and turned over to Libyan intelligence on suspicion of espionage, and until Sunday his whereabouts were unknown. Israeli officials now announced that he had been freed by Libyan authorities and flown to Vienna, following prolonged negotiations.
Reportedly, the case involved international efforts and was linked to Israel’s treatment of a pro-Palestinian ship sponsored by Libya that tried to run the blockade of Gaza last month. “The Foreign Ministry and the foreign minister worked for a long time to have him freed, along with other international bodies, and we thank all involved for their help,” an Israeli spokesman said, but did not provide further details. Libyan authorities have not commented.
Israeli nationals are banned from visiting the north African country. Haddad was traveling on his Tunisian passport when he was arrested.
Israeli officials said the efforts to free Haddad involved Italy, which has close ties to Libya and is home to a Libyan Jewish exile community, as well as France, Tunisia and the United States. Israeli officials quoted by AP said the final deal was arranged by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Austrian-Jewish businessman Martin Schlaff.
Haddad was flown to Vienna on Schlaff’s private jet, the officials said, and was greeted at the airport by Lieberman. As part of the deal Israel allowed 20 prefabricated houses from the Libyan-sponsored ship, which tried to reach Gaza in July, to be delivered to the Strip. The Libyan ship was diverted to Egypt.
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress
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