Overall, I found the Barefoot players production of Israel Horowitz’s three plays effective. The few props were used well, and I understood every word that was said (although, that may have only been because I was sitting near the front). The costumes were effective, especially in “The Indian Wants the Bronx” and “Beirut Rocks.” The Indian’s traditional garb, and Nasa’s recognizably Muslim dress served to make it obvious that neither character fit in with those around them.
The short play style was new to me. I have seen plays separated into three or more acts, but it has always been one play. I felt that showing three short plays in a row was effective in keeping my attention and saying the same thing in different ways. Two young kids beating up an old Indian man is different than a man trying to convince his childhood friend not to commit an act of terrorism, and both are different than a group of college students being evacuated from a dangerous area. However, these plays worked as a group because they all attempted to put the audience in the mindset of a member of a commonly oppressed ethnicity.
The acting was convincing, and the actors succeeded in drawing an emotional response from me. I sincerely cared about the characters and the situation they were in. However, after hearing the post-play talk back, it seemed the playwright failed in creating the response he intended. This was particularly true with the last play. Mr. Horovitz spoke about the terrible situation Nasa was put in, and how racist Benjy was. He wanted the audience to be sympathetic towards Nasa. He also spoke about miscommunication, and balance. After viewing the play I did not see those themes at all. It seemed to me that both Nasa and Benjy clearly communicated their feelings. Benjy was offended by Nasa’s generalization that all Jews were attacking Lebanon and was upset by her desire to commit genocide against his race. Nasa felt hatred toward Jews due to her parent’s murder, and was upset that she could not be involved in the bombing.
Not only did their desires seem clear, but there was no balance. I could not equate Benjy’s violent reaction to Nasa with Nasa’s desire to kill all Jews. Though Benjy showed ignorance when he asked why Nasa was studying Arabic, being “Arabic” herself, there was nothing menacing or offensive in his statement. I would see it as a compliment if someone thought every member of my ethnicity had the intelligence and education to be multi-lingual. He only becomes violent after Nasa expresses her desire to exterminate the Jewish people. Benjy expresses anger towards an individual who directly threatened his family. This is by no means the same as Nasa’s intent to take part in a centuries old war with the ultimate goal of ethnic cleansing.
