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A friend of my family called recently to see if my parents wanted tickets to see the
touring production of Golda's Balcony.
My parents already had tickets for the show, so they extended the offer to me. My answer was a definite "yes!"
My busy working schedule over the last couple of years has kept me from being able to see much live theatre, so I certainly wasn't going to miss this opportunity no matter what show it might be. And, as it turned out, it was a wonderful show!
"Golda's Balcony" refers to the balcony that overlooked the nuclear arsenal that was considered as a last resort when Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria in 1973.
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Posted: 1/19/06 |
Golda's Balcony is the story of Golda Meir, Israel's Prime Minister. Using the 1973 Yom Kippur War as a hinge point, we see Golda's life relived, from her immigration to the United States to her move to Palestine in 1921 to help the Jews and eventually to her position as Fourth Prime Minister of Israel.
The story of Golda Meir's life is a remarkable one, and in Golda's Balcony it is particularly impressive as presented by a single woman. This one-woman play stars Valerie Harper, star of television's Rhoda, in a very impressive performance.
Throughout the course of the 95-minute, intermission-less performance, Ms. Harper plays not only Golda Meir but many of the other people Golda interacted with in her life: from a five year old boy to Henry Kissinger to a Holocaust survivor to her own husband and children to some of the world's leaders. She became each character seamlessly and made you believe in them.
Golda's Balcony was written by William Gibson, author of The Miracle Worker. It is a touching, insightful and, at times, even humorous play. It is a history lesson. It is a look at a remarkable woman's soul and life. And it is an amazing piece of theatre.
