Review: FROM THE OTHER SIDE at TZAVTA

Etgar Keret is amazing. Of all the Israeli authors this group could have chosen to base their play on, he's probably the best. This play, based on Keret's short novella "Kneller's Happy Campers", tells the story of a community of suicides from the point of view of Haim - a young man who begins the story shortly after he lands in the afterlife.

As the story continues in that semi-abstract way Etgar Keret stories go, the audience is acquainted with a myriad of characters and takes a different angle to the issue. What we see as the most important things regarding suicide becomes an insignificant issue in this specific version of the afterlife, and the person watching the story unfold can only deduce the answers to the questions that would plague them had these suicides happened in real life. The story is one of love, loss, friendship and community. It's sweet and emotional but also funny and visceral.

This talented group of young performers chose a perfect story to tell their audience, and the fact that they do it in the simplest way - with only cardboard boxes as props representing - anything they have or need or use - keeps the focus on the story itself and keeps the presentation simple.

This small cast - Daniel Wertheim, Yechiam Berko, Hadar Dimand, Roey Bitan and Roni Ohana do an amazing job at creating complete and rounded characters, with tiny humorous mannerisms (such as Lihi's sneezes every time she goes near Ari). With that, I would have to point out the character of Ari was very prominent and verging on stealing the show with its barrage of funny lines throughout the first half of the show and wide emotional range.

There were some minor issues with the show - the character of Haim is forced by the story to be the narrator as well as a main character, subsequently he was often rushing through his lines, not allowing the audience time to hear and process everything. This is probably due to the lack of time in this one-hour show, so perhaps the show could use 15 more minutes.

Another issue was with the ending which due to the plot cuts made from the original story, left audience members who didn't know the story with questions, mainly about the character of the man in the white coat who entered the story toward the end and was not explained in the plot of the show.

In spite of these minor issues, I'd still highly recommend this show as a great night, with its unusual concept of the matter of suicide. And also if you just want to see something very very funny.

Due credits for the creators:

Adapted to a play and directed by - Lina Snir- Naharin

Music- G'dee Yaar

Costume and Set design- Noa Dotan

Movement- Yotam Calo Livne

Lighting design- Roee Dvir

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