Acorn

Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Arts and Leisure

Media Credit: Katie Chambers Pablo Ariel (left) and Wassim Bashara perform "Neighbors" in the Dorothy Young Center for the Arts.

Yesterday, members of the Drew University community of all ages shared a moment of cultural understanding, watching with rapt attention as salt and pepper shakers battled for dominance of an overturned mixing bowl. In the end, the mixing bowl won.

The Theatre Arts Department hosted Israel's Galilee Multicultural Theater Company in the Dorothy Young Center for the Arts Black Box Theatre, as they performed "Neighbors," one of their unique multimedia shows that use the silliest of situations to make the most serious of statements.

"Neighbors" features classically-trained Arab musician Wassim Bashara and Jewish actor and director Pablo Ariel, who combine talents to create living works of art that focus on hope, communication and the disintegration of cultural boundaries. Using almost no words, the artists communicate with one another and the audience through puppetry, mime, folk music, physical comedy and the imaginative use of everyday objects. While the show does not have a concrete plot, its message of understanding and togetherness is clear. Ariel spoke directly to the audience during a question-and-answer session after the performance. "We try to create a general feeling, an atmosphere for the whole piece," he said. "You bring the light to it."

The duo is currently on tour, performed in Mexico last week and is scheduled to perform in England next week.

"Because the shows are mostly nonverbal, they can really transcend language barriers," Professor of Theatre Arts Lisa Brenner said. Brenner said she first saw the Galilee troupe perform while traveling in Israel last year. "I was really moved," she said. "I said, 'We have to bring these people to Drew.'"

On Wednesday, Ariel spoke to members of the Drew community about the mission of the Galilee Theater and his own artistic development. Ariel was born in Argentina, but has spent the last 30 years in Israel. As a newcomer to Israel at age 20, Ariel joined a group of young people who were searching for a new way to express themselves theatrically. After studying multiple genres and periods of theatre, Ariel said the group "decided Greek tragedy was the most touching." They performed Greek tragedies, substituting makeup for the traditional tragic masks and using no words, only mime. "We created a visual language," Ariel said.

Continued...

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