“This is an open vilification of the Jewish people . . . demonstrably and openly drawing upon an atavistic hatred of the Jews. It is sickening and dreadful beyond measure . . . In the Middle Ages, ‘mystery plays’, which portrayed the Jews as the demonic killers of Christ, helped fuel the murderous pogroms against the Jews of Europe.”
– The Guardian quotes rightwing commentator Melanie Phillips’ response to Caryl Churchill’s new mini-play about Gaza; the 8-minute work, which is entitled Seven Jewish Children, is now playing at London’s Royal Court Theatre, a spot where we saw some of our favorite plays while studying abroad back in 2001. Somewhere in New York, Neil LaBute is smiling because people are talking, reacting, frothing about theatre.