Review: THE SECRETS at Beit Lessin Theatre

With a new story inspired by the internationally praised movie The Secrets, Beit Lessin Theatre premiered a new play under the same name, directed by Kfir Azulay.

While the main idea of the 2007 film which was written by Avi Nesher and Hadar Galron remained along with its central characters, the story changed significantly as Hadar Galron rewrote the story and once again brings a captivating and daring voice to religious women in the contemporary Israeli society.
In the play we meet Naomi, the daughter of the much respected orthodox Dayan, Rabbi Hess, who arrives at Safed and joins a midrasha- an institute of Jewish studies for women. Naomi recently lost her mother and convinces her father to postpone her wedding and allow her to study in the midrasha. Though not being well accepted by some of the girls there, especially by a girl named Michelle, her great knowledge brings her to a subversive project of becoming the first orthodox female rabbi, a dream she shares with Rabbanit Dvorah Halberstadt (Dvori), the principal of the midrasha. Dvori, who promised the Dayan to prepare Naomi to marriage life, discovers Naomi's potential and breaks her promise, but in order for Naomi to reach her dream she becomes Michelle's havruta (study partner). Michelle is a rebellious student who was sent to the midrasha as a punishment of a dark and secret event in her past. Naomi might be determined to be a female rabbi but an unexpected connection between her and Michelle changes her path and leads them both to unexpected paths while getting in the way of Naomi's dreams.

Hadar Galron isn't the only one in this production who was involved with both the movie and the play as actress Michal Shtamler played as Michelle both in the movie and on stage (alternating the role with Shiran Huberman). Even though the name and main idea of this character is the same in both versions, Michelle is completely different and received both a new background and, accordingly, a different personality, which Michal manages to portray impressively, leaving no doubt that once again she developed this role with a clean slate and didn't rely on her past work for it.
The lead role of Naomi is played by Yael Vekstein who takes her character on an emotional journey while changing and evolving as she should and doing so with great confidence and poise.
Joining them are Liat Goren as Rabbanit Dvorah Halberstadt (alternating the role with Hadas Kalderon), the humorous Keren Maron as Sheinne, Lorin Mosseri as Miri Cohen, Yaniv Levi who charmed as Yanki Meizlish and most notably Ami Winberg as Rabbi Hess.
Finally, despite having small supporting roles, the four actresses who play the other girls in the midrasha, Bar Ackerman, Danielle Eve, Eliya Lasri and Elinor (Ellie) David, had a significant part in presenting the atmosphere and the nature of such a place and life and did so even during the brilliantly directed scene changes. Not only were some of these changes sometimes accompanied with singing of religious chants by the girls, but the girls also arranged the set themselves, as opposed to other theatre productions where the stage crew usually does this task or at least the male cast members, adding to the play's theme of desire for women equality and empowerment.

There were a few problematic direction decisions, including how quickly Naomi and Michelle's relationship completely changes or how most of the characters lack a required gentleness, but Kfir Azulay's direction is still remarkable and eminent in every aspect of the play. Contributing to his ideas furthermore is the very original work by the entire creative team, starting with the detailed set designed by Polina Adamov and costumes by Ofra Confino, the impressive lighting designed by Ziv Voloshin, and the highly influential music by Elad Adar along with the flowing movement by Amit Zamir.

On an unexpected side note, there have been quite a few resemblances between elements in this play in comparison to the musical Wicked. Starting with Naomi's suitcase as she arrives at the midrasha along with her not being accepted by the other girls there, as well as the design of her blue dress and braided hair. Even the scene where Michelle 'Galindafies' Naomi as she unbraids Naomi's hair, takes her glasses off and puts lipstick on her lips could not be so similar by chance, but whether it's all on purpose or not, it fits very well with this story line.

Although the play is about religious women in the contemporary society, in a world where #MeToo is trending everywhere and every day a new case of serial harassments by a public figure is exposed and published and where each day women everywhere still need to fight for equality, this new rendition of this story could not be more relevant to all audiences, and the harsh and dark feeling displayed in it is precise, powerful and the right way by which it should be presented.

For tickets and further information, visit www.lessin.co.il or call 03-7255333 (Israel).
Duration: 1 hour and 40 minutes, without an intermission.

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