Hana Leslau: "Suddenly they want to censor me. I haven't heard that since the 80s" | Israel today

For decades, Hanna Leslau has been considered one of the funniest people in Israel.

This summer she will turn 70, and it seems that the actress and comedian continues with full vigor.

In her new project Leslau will participate in an "exceptional" show dedicated to Talia Shapira, as part of the "Women's Festival at the Holon Theater".

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"I decided to salute Talia Shapira, because a generation is growing up here that doesn't know her, even though she was a wonderful comedian and actress. She always said to me, 'How do you do a solo show? I admire you for not being afraid.' She was so scared and I encouraged her, and in the end she did And she was wonderful," Leslau says.

"I will make segments of her that will start with a video in which she speaks, and I will integrate with new segments that I wrote inspired by her about what is happening today: about how people meet, on Tinder...in 'Plikation', and there will also be a song that I will perform half in Hebrew and half in Yiddish. We will not do any more Spoilers".

In the show I will give a group of female stand-up artists celebrating, something that is finally seen more after years when the field was dominated by men.

"I always saw myself as an artist, regardless of gender, but it is true that in the early 1990s I had a show called 'Sex, Lies and Hannah Laslow', as a result of which I was not invited to the shows," she says, "When I asked why this was happening, they told me that a woman who talks about Sex is vulgar. But in the end I ran with the show in hundreds of performances, people bought tickets and I didn't agree to give up."

Talia Shapira, photo: Courtesy here 11

So the revolution is complete?

"We were the pioneers, then there were Little Schwartz, Orna Banai, Adi Ashkenazi, and I think everything is also related to what is happening socially. You can't separate it. If we look at the status of women, we are in a crazy time against the background of the fact that only 200 years ago women They couldn't vote. Thanks to Lemi Tu and female empowerment, many good things are happening today, and things that used to be normative today are not passed."

Were you harassed too?

"I always knew how to put people on the spot, so they didn't dare touch me, but in the military band there was one of the seniors who hinted to me that we were about to be purged and that we should... I told him, 'Now I'm calling your wife to tell her what you told me,' and it stopped. It's hard, sometimes women keep silent There is a dresser in the theater who told me that veteran actors would pin her to the wall, and she was not allowed to go against them."

According to her, her artistic choices have also changed a lot over the years according to the social mood.

"Culture reflects moves that are happening. Once, for example, there was much more patience for the written word. Today, in the era of WhatsApp, everything has changed, you want quick punches. You have to have your hand on the pulse. Many comedians - including men - did not survive because they did not understand the way The spirit of the times. When dealing with comedy, you must remain relevant, topical, kicking and biting."

But while Leslau talks about the adjustments she makes sure to make to stay relevant, she claims that these days she is experiencing difficulty, and that she is required to censor herself.

"It seems that we are going backwards. Not long ago I heard that they want to buy my show, but they don't like the profanity. With me, the talk about sex is also implicit and sophisticated. I haven't heard that since the 80s."

The "Woman Festival at the Holon Theater" will take place on March 1-4.

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