The Arzi Theater founded by Sami Levy premieres these days 2 productions of original works based on the songs of Kobi Oz and Arik Einstein, and with very current themes. By Chiquita Levov, text and photos.
“The flower of the neighborhoods”: exciting Israeli musical produced by the Theater “Artzi” founded by lawyer Sami Levy from the songs of the band ““Teapacks” de Kobi Oz, directed by Udi Gottshalk and the musical direction of Elad Peretz. After witnessing the rehearsals we can foresee that it will be a wonderful musical experience performed by a cast of first-class actors, singers and dancers and accompanied by a live orchestra. The cast headed by Susana Papian alternating with Shani Sasson in the female role along with Morris Cohen alternating with Yigal Adika in the male role. Featuring: Hila Saada, Avi Greinik and many more. Starting 14.8/XNUMX on different dates and various locations. More information: https://bit.ly/4cn4ERw
Cast rehearsing
The plot and characters are inspired by the inhabitants of Sderot. Orit and Yossi were made for each other and everyone in Sderot knew that one day they would get married. He dreamed of fulfilling his beloved's dream of becoming a successful singer and called her “the flower of the neighborhoods.” Yossi's father reveals a family secret to him. After the discovery and at the instruction of her father, he was forced to change course and go to study at a religious school. Orit tries to get used to his religious friend, but the crisis advances and breaks their relationship. The heartbroken Yossi is torn between the desire to fulfill the “mitzvah” honoring his father and the desire to return to his love. While he seeks to rebuild his life, he denies his roots and his family and puts his loved ones in a vortex from which they will hardly be able to escape.
Kobi and Udi
Kobi Oz (54 years old) is an Israeli singer-songwriter, composer, musician, writer, playwright, radio host and music producer. He was born in Sderot to Tunisian Jewish parents who moved to British Mandate Palestine in 1942 to escape the regime of Vichy France. In 1985 he began playing music and composing, playing keyboards for the band “Sfatayim”, which performed Moroccan music. His great fame arose thanks to the group that he founded in 1992 “Teapacks” of which he is the vocalist and main composer and with which he had great success, becoming a pillar of the Israeli songbook. Oz is committed to raising public awareness about the tragedy of his hometown, which is constantly under attack from the Gaza Strip.
"“Love at first sight”
Eli and Dafna
It is an Israeli musical by Shlomi Moshkowitz, based on the songs of Arik Einstein, the creator and greatest singer we had here, who left wonderful songs that make up the soundtrack of Israel. Arik was the model of the beautiful Israeli, the icon of Israeli culture. This is a colorful and accomplished musical, with a cast of excellent actors led by veterans Eli Gorenstein and Dafna Dekel and young talents Adi Alon, Diana Golbi and Shai Hamber along with other actors, dancers and singers, and a musical band that plays in alive and whose musicians are an integral part of the work. Directed by the best: Zadi Zorfati. What is interesting to see in the play is the way in which the very powerful texts of some of the songs can be chilling to the audience in the context of the current war. The result is shocking. It is being presented in various locations around the country on different dates. More Data: https://kupatbravo.co.il/announce/78271
Although another version of the musical premiered under a different name in 2017, today, Sami Levy's Teatro Arzi in collaboration with the Motzkin Theater Hall have decided to remount the musical, but giving it a different dimension of content. The creators claim to have made changes and innovations to the musical, making it more relevant than ever, stronger than ever, and more accurate than ever. With the help of changes in the plot, the characterization of the characters and the choice of songs, and the stage adaptation he turned the play into something different from what it was. Work on the building began before the war, but continued during it. Moshkowitz and Zorfati understood that it was impossible to ignore the harsh reality of every day outside the theater, and they decided to adjust to it. The plot actually allows for this adaptation since it takes place in Tel Aviv in the summer of 1973, just before the Yom Kippur War.
The musical
Set against the backdrop of a dramatic love story between Rachel and Oded, the plot returns to one of Israel's stormy, creative and, if we may say, most painful and significant periods. Oded, a bohemian from Tel Aviv, falls in love at first sight with Rachel, a bourgeoisie from Savion. Rona, a long-suffering composer, who is also none other than Oded's “mythological ex,” does everything possible to sabotage the relationship between the two. Rachel's conservative parents and Oded's colorful, bohemian group, the fortified, each in their own faith and worldview, collide in the story of an overwhelming and humorous romantic triangle, between hope and despair, between life and death. Rachel and Oded's uncompromising love is tested when challenges come into their lives and force them to make decisions. Finally Oded went out to fight in that cruel war.