Comments on: “Return to Haifa” @ The Next Theatre: The Source Material http://ageless-northshore.com/return-to-haifa-next-theatre/ MIDLIFE IN THE MIDWEST Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:13:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Christopher J. Harlin http://ageless-northshore.com/return-to-haifa-next-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-8121 Christopher J. Harlin Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:51:48 +0000 http://ageless-northshore.com/?p=8053#comment-8121 Fantastic show...bully to you sir. Fantastic show…bully to you sir.

]]> By: Michael Geynisman http://ageless-northshore.com/return-to-haifa-next-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-8003 Michael Geynisman Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:17:11 +0000 http://ageless-northshore.com/?p=8053#comment-8003 Dear Mr. Richardson, With all due respect, sir, I think you already had a set agenda coming into this play. Anyone who concludes their comments with "Our American society is so pro-Israel and Zionist propaganda heavy, that we fail to see the other side of the coin", is already in deep trouble. Hmm, sounds familiar, ah? I'm glad you commented. Because I'm sure that all of us, who come to see this play, were driven by compassion and desire to understand "the other side of the coin" as you well put it. And yes, we came to see this play because we feel for the plight of the Palestinians. The simple reason is that we are Russian Jews, and we were pretty much driven from our homes some 20 years ago, left Russia with nothing and started new life here. No, we never looked back or grieved for our rose bushes but tried our best to built new life from scratch. Surely America is not West Bank under Israeli control. And I hope that the Israel and the rest of the world will help Palestinians to rebuilt. But I hoped to see a message that they are ready to start rebuilding themselves. With all this, I would hope that neither Zionist propaganda, nor bashing Israel will never penetrate our great and embracing American society. Dear Mr. Richardson,

With all due respect, sir, I think you already had a set agenda coming into this play. Anyone who concludes their comments with “Our American society is so pro-Israel and Zionist propaganda heavy, that we fail to see the other side of the coin”, is already in deep trouble. Hmm, sounds familiar, ah? I’m glad you commented. Because I’m sure that all of us, who come to see this play, were driven by compassion and desire to understand “the other side of the coin” as you well put it. And yes, we came to see this play because we feel for the plight of the Palestinians. The simple reason is that we are Russian Jews, and we were pretty much driven from our homes some 20 years ago, left Russia with nothing and started new life here. No, we never looked back or grieved for our rose bushes but tried our best to built new life from scratch. Surely America is not West Bank under Israeli control. And I hope that the Israel and the rest of the world will help Palestinians to rebuilt. But I hoped to see a message that they are ready to start rebuilding themselves. With all this, I would hope that neither Zionist propaganda, nor bashing Israel will never penetrate our great and embracing American society.

]]> By: James Richardson http://ageless-northshore.com/return-to-haifa-next-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-7999 James Richardson Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:56:26 +0000 http://ageless-northshore.com/?p=8053#comment-7999 Dear Mr. Geynisen - with all due respect sir, I think you already had a set agenda coming into this play. Anyone who begins their comments with "driven by a noble desire to be open-minded and trusting in sanity of Evanston-based audience" is already in deep trouble. In my opinion, this play did indeed give a balanced point of view for both sides and I don't think the play promotes lies and falsehoods as you so aggressively comment on. I think you saw the play you wanted to see from the moment you entered the theatre. But that's fine. You have every right to your opinion, but don't go bashing the play because your agenda is written all over it. It's not fair to the theatre, the patrons who see it, or the artists who are working very hard to tell this story. The monolougues were just fine. The actors, designers, director did a wonderful job presenting this story to us. It's up to us the audience to decide what we agree with or don't agree with. Clearly, you didn't agree with the play. That's fine. I however, felt it was a compassionate and well told story of how global circumstances beyond our control can infiltrate our daily lives. Such has been true of may world events over time and this one is no different. Also, how many times have we failed to see or hear the point of view from the other side, in this case, the Palestinian side. Rarely do I see any plays, movies, television shows that present such a view. It was refreshing to just have that side at least examined in this play. Our American society is so pro-Israel and zionist propoganda heavy, that we fail to see the other side of the coin. Regardless of where you stand with your political viewpoints, you should see the play. It is well worth it and as you can see, will foster much discussion. Thank you for the time. - James Richardson Dear Mr. Geynisen – with all due respect sir, I think you already had a set agenda coming into this play. Anyone who begins their comments with “driven by a noble desire to be open-minded and trusting in sanity of Evanston-based audience” is already in deep trouble. In my opinion, this play did indeed give a balanced point of view for both sides and I don’t think the play promotes lies and falsehoods as you so aggressively comment on. I think you saw the play you wanted to see from the moment you entered the theatre. But that’s fine. You have every right to your opinion, but don’t go bashing the play because your agenda is written all over it. It’s not fair to the theatre, the patrons who see it, or the artists who are working very hard to tell this story. The monolougues were just fine. The actors, designers, director did a wonderful job presenting this story to us. It’s up to us the audience to decide what we agree with or don’t agree with. Clearly, you didn’t agree with the play. That’s fine. I however, felt it was a compassionate and well told story of how global circumstances beyond our control can infiltrate our daily lives. Such has been true of may world events over time and this one is no different. Also, how many times have we failed to see or hear the point of view from the other side, in this case, the Palestinian side. Rarely do I see any plays, movies, television shows that present such a view. It was refreshing to just have that side at least examined in this play. Our American society is so pro-Israel and zionist propoganda heavy, that we fail to see the other side of the coin. Regardless of where you stand with your political viewpoints, you should see the play. It is well worth it and as you can see, will foster much discussion. Thank you for the time. – James Richardson

]]> By: Michael Geynisman http://ageless-northshore.com/return-to-haifa-next-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-7998 Michael Geynisman Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:13:51 +0000 http://ageless-northshore.com/?p=8053#comment-7998 Yes, you are aboslutely right. I failed to mention that all actors did their best under the circumstances. And by the way, have people noticed the symbolism of the last scene when both mothers lift their babies out of their crades? It should symbolize hope but pretty much prompt the audience think that it is how the history could be if the Jewish mother did not suffer through Holocaust and the Palestinian mother did not suffer through what - Jewish agression? That\'s where the history and responsibities of two peoples got eqated in this version of the play. Yes, you are aboslutely right. I failed to mention that all actors did their best under the circumstances. And by the way, have people noticed the symbolism of the last scene when both mothers lift their babies out of their crades? It should symbolize hope but pretty much prompt the audience think that it is how the history could be if the Jewish mother did not suffer through Holocaust and the Palestinian mother did not suffer through what – Jewish agression? That\’s where the history and responsibities of two peoples got eqated in this version of the play.

]]> By: Michael Geynisman http://ageless-northshore.com/return-to-haifa-next-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-7997 Michael Geynisman Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:12:46 +0000 http://ageless-northshore.com/?p=8053#comment-7997 Yes, you are aboslutely right. I failed to mention that all actors did their best under the circumstances. And by the way, have people noticed the symbolism of the last scene when both mothers lift their babies out of their crades? It should symbolize hope but pretty much prompt the audience think that it is how the history could be if the Jewish mother did not suffer through Holocaust and the Palestinian mother did not suffer through what - Jewish agression? That's where the history and responsibities of two peoples got eqated in this version of the play. Yes, you are aboslutely right. I failed to mention that all actors did their best under the circumstances. And by the way, have people noticed the symbolism of the last scene when both mothers lift their babies out of their crades? It should symbolize hope but pretty much prompt the audience think that it is how the history could be if the Jewish mother did not suffer through Holocaust and the Palestinian mother did not suffer through what – Jewish agression? That’s where the history and responsibities of two peoples got eqated in this version of the play.

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