Reader Reviews
Crossing Jerusalem (Tricycle Theatre, Inner London)
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 | Julia Pascal has a fine pedigree and Crossing Jerusalem promised much if its pre-publicity was anything to go by. Given that Pascal was keen to emphasise that she spent most of 2002 researching her work, the final product seems to strive for authenticity over substance. That is not to say that Crossing Jerusalem contains some wickedly funny lines coupled with the disturbingly engaging reality of modern-day Israel, but the fairly limited plot development - culminating in a predictable, let-down of an ending - meant that most of the audience left with little to discuss or enthuse over, as they filed out of the Tricycle. Pascal is adept with her sharp prose and astute observations on contemporary Israeli society. But despite an enthusiastic cast, whose accents improved throughout the performance, they were lumbered with a rather stereotypical cross-section of Israeli-Palestinian society to portray. The single-minded Zionist mother (excellently portrayed by Suzanne Bertish), the Russian émigré husband, the tormented Israeli soldier, the peacenik daughter-in-law, the angry young Muslim Palestinian and his brother and the vaguely comical Christian Arab. They are all given equal billing in an admirable effort to steer clear of religious or political bias; in the end, however, the journey across Jerusalem feels more like a stopover on the M25. A journey going nowhere with only limited relief from a break at a service station. Admittedly, the action gets going a little in Sami's restaurant and the exchanges between Yusuf and Sharif, the two Muslim brothers, are frightenly authentic. Nabil Elouahabi is wonderfully assured as Yusuf, the resigned, older brother. Sadly, the stilted encounter between Yusuf and the Jewish Israeli, Yael, requires some suspension of disbelief as Pascal endaevours to weave some plot into the action. The missing jewellery and demands for financial reparations largely fail to achieve this. Crossing Jerusalem is by no means a bad play; at times, it is remarkably candid in its take on Israeli in the 21st century. Ultimately, however, in its bold attempt to remain largely impartial and leave most questions entirely unanswered, Crossing Jerusalem fails to pack the punch it could so easily produce. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.67.71) | 17 Mar 03 |
