Maggie Ezerzer felt that the premiere starring her corresponds with her life • Yuval Sharaf auditioned for a meeting at the HMO • Joy Rieger remembers a protective family feeling • And Oshri Cohen got used to standing as a teenager in front of an audience of 1,000 people • We returned to the stars who started the Beit Lessin Theater
The 40th birthday of the Baruch Ivcher Beit Lessin Theater in Tel Aviv fell this year, coincidentally to the plot of a horror play, into the dark period of the cultural world, when the corona closed everything and left the halls, which had previously been fermented night after night in a variety of productions, empty and dark.
Beit Lessin, which he founded in the late Yaakov Agmon 80, began his career as a cultural club theater combined with an Arab singer.
In 1993, Tzipi Pines, the director and artistic director, who heads the theater to this day, came into the picture and largely became his face. Pines came with a vision to make Beit Lessin one of the largest and leading theaters in the country, to promote new Israeli plays. The theater's representative team includes Yona Elian, Sasson Gabay, Mia Dagan, Lior Ashkenazi and more.
Despite the hard days and the plague, Beit Lessin decided not to give up on the celebrations of the round date and filmed a special birthday show - in front of a hall devoid of crowds.
In the show, directed by Ido Rosenberg and broadcast here 11 (April 3), many of the actors will tell over the years about the great moments, special productions and power of the theater, which is currently preparing for the reopening of the doors, after more than a year of downtime.
We went back to names that started out on the Beit Lessin stage, to hear from them about the first opportunity, the memories, the tips - and the corona year that had passed over them.
"I played a 'gaping' girl who asks a lot of questions, just like Maggie, who came from Netanya and was not ashamed to ask"
Maggie Ezerzer (34) started at Beit Lessin at the age of 28, in the play "Educating Rita"
Today: Actress at the Beit Lessin Theater, on television and in the cinema
My first play:
"Educate Rita", in 2014, directed by the late Roni Pinkovich.
I played there someone who arrives 'gaping' and is not ashamed to ask questions.
And this is exactly the personal story of Maggie, who came from Netanya and was not ashamed to ask questions at Nissan Nativ's studio in Tel Aviv. "A
memory I take with me:
" In this show Rita comes to the professor and talks to him as if he were her boyfriend - and he falls in love with her impudence.
This is, in fact, my general experience from Tel Aviv.
I arrived at Beit Lessin after already playing TV, and heard that Tzipi Pines was asking me what I had done and what I was worth.
She really gave me a chance here, and I knew that Rita's character suited me, really tailored to my measurements. "The
uniqueness of Beit Lessin:
" The fact that a woman heads it changes a lot in terms of content.
To me, on a personal level, she serves as a mother, and it calms my soul. "
My corona sleep:
" I am an adaptable person, and I saw in the plague a sign and a sign.
I realized that it was my time to rest, that the chase had stopped and that one had to go inside, because there is no 'outside' now.
I taught zooming here and there, but I didn't work that hard during that time.
The warrior's rest.
"I found out that in the end, it's not that scary inside, and that there's a whole world in my personal life, in the relationship between me and my partner (Kuti Sabag; MK). In my opinion, it was one of the most instructive years I had, and it kept me sane."
The problematic attitude to the world of culture:
"It was the field that was easiest and most accessible to close. They said 'no gathering'? So let's immediately close the gates of the theater. One day the details of the branches most affected in Corona were shown on TV, and I saw the field of culture not listed there. "I was outraged, I posted that it was not fair that we were not even mentioned as victims. It was really a moment when I chose to be personally offended."
My most important tip for beginners:
"In your life you will hear lots of advice, opinions and recommendations on playing methods. You should take a little of everything, but the most important advice is not to forget yourself, understand what suits you and why you belong."
What I wish Beit Lessin for her birthday:
"May Tzipi Pines continue to be a healthy, strong and powerful woman - because Beit Lessin is her."
"As a kid I just played without being aware. Today I wonder how I took everything in Izzy"
Oshri Cohen (37) started at Beit Lessin at the age of 13, in the play "The Jungle Book"
Today: Creator, writer and director for cinema
My first play:
"'The Jungle Book' in 1996, in the role of Mowgli, alternating with Tom Avni. After a year I played there in 'Mist', and continued until 'The Indian Patient', at the age of 23, which was the highlight of my career at Beit Lessin." .
A memory I take with me:
"While everyone went on annual trips I played in shows, and when everyone went down to play football I went to perform. It's an experience that kids can experience as unpleasant, because it's an excitement to stand in front of 1,000 people in the audience, but very personally I enjoyed it. "Without being aware. Today I wonder how I took it at Izzy, because it is precisely when adolescents are exposed to the dangers of the profession, to domestic politics, to pressures. When you are a child you are innocent."
The uniqueness of Beit Lessin:
"He always put the younger generation before his eyes. Many writers, directors and actors found that Beit Lessin was their first home."
My corona year:
"For the past two years I have been mainly involved in writing and directing. I admit that the longing for stage is always present and burning, but acting in theater is something very demanding that cannot be done 'on the road'. So I decided to focus on directing and writing for film. "Cut Out - a project of short films about the little man's dealing with the establishment and technology, and it is available on YouTube. In addition, I directed and wrote a film called 'In the Middle of Nowhere', starring Dror Keren and Tzachi Grad, which is due out soon."
The problematic attitude to the world of culture:
"I'm not surprised, because art and culture have always been the last thing we think about. Now it's just more transparent. We've faced very few budgets for many years, and I do not separate culture from life. Everything that has happened here is just a crime Against humanity: closures, corona, a very great distrust of everyone, and mine personally, in power and in the establishment, that have gone one step too far in what has been done to the little citizen.I'm just furious at the conduct and bullying that is happening not only here - but all over the world. "New, we are at its peak, and the little citizen is currently going through a kind of Holocaust."
My most important tip for beginner players:
"Keep the child in you, the developed imagination. Like a little boy disguised as a cowboy - be that child. Get rid of 'what people think of me' and 'whether I'm good or not'. Just have fun like a child - and the audience already Will enjoy with you. "
What I wish for Beit Lessin for the birthday:
"Be brave, deal with materials that are not just institutional and succeed in having a statement of their own. I admit that my dream is to close the circle and return to Beit Lessin, to return youthful grace to Tzipi Pines, who believed in me from a very young age. "I did not recognize. I owe her and the theater my career, and I would be happy to give them back - and come back to them with a good role."
"Then the director said to me, 'It's crazy we met, because my show is coming up - and you have a suitable role there.'"
Yuval Sharaf (35) started at Beit Lessin at the age of 23, in the play "Aquas"
Today: Actress at the Haifa Theater, film and television
My first play:
"I went straight from the studio to Nissan Nativ's acting studio for the play 'Aquas', in 2008, exactly a week after I graduated. The play was directed by the late Roni Pinkovich, and I stumbled upon it by chance as a HMO.
We just sat across from each other and started talking, and then he told me it's crazy we met, because in two months his show is coming up, and he thinks I have a suitable role there.
I arrived, and stayed at Beit Lessin for seven years.
Tzipi Pines really nurtured me. "A
memory I take with me:
" When I was a student at Nissan Nativ, I lived in Dizengoff 99, just below Beit Lessin.
I always told myself that when I finished the studio I would come to this theater, so this was my first dream come true as an actress.
And really, Roni and Tzipi invited me to read, and from there it's all history.
Over the years I have done stunning roles. "The
uniqueness of Beit Lessin:" I will always remember him as a theater that built me and gave me the first opportunity.
The place where I learned, in fact, what theater is. "
My corona year:
" I had a stunning year, along with the fact that I really missed the stage.
I did not work for two years, due to pregnancy and childbirth.
I have two amazing children, and I feel like this year has been very meaningful for me with them.
At the same time, I set up a social enterprise called Group The Hague, which is a site that offers an online support and counseling platform for parents from senior professionals.
In addition, I was photographed for the series 'The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem', which will be staged, and for a German festival film that will be released in the summer. "
The problematic attitude to the world of culture:
" The field of culture has been abandoned at a disgraceful level.
I really hope that now we will be able to come back, that the audience will come to the hall and not be afraid, and that everyone will remember that the culture is not NICE TO HAVE - but MUST HAVE. "
My most important tip for beginner players:" This game is like running a marathon.
The road is long and winding, sweaty and injured, and there is a lot of hard training - until there is one good and accurate role that is worth everything. "
What I wish Beit Lessin for his birthday:
" That this theater will continue to produce Israeli work and support Israeli artists, as it has done over the years.
And maybe we'll meet again on his stage. "
"I remember the women's conversations behind the scenes, I listened and absorbed everything"
Joy Rieger (27) started at Beit Lessin at the age of 10, in the play "Hope"
Today: Actress in the Cameri Theater, in the team, on television and in the cinema
My first play:
"After participating in an independent production of 'The Jungle Book' as a child, I came to Beit Lessin at the age of 10, in 2004, directly for the adult play 'Mikveh', written by Hadar Galron. I played an ultra-Orthodox girl who becomes mute, because her father Beats his wife, her mother, and she chooses to remain silent. "
A memory I take with me:
"I still remember the amazing body language work that the late director Micha Levinson did with me.
Only women play in Mikveh, and I remember that behind the scenes there were always women's talks.
I was at an age where you want to be an older woman already, and I remember sucking and absorbing everything they said.
We performed more than 500 times, and I really grew up with this show, from fifth grade to ninth grade.
All the actresses took great care of me, and I felt like in the family.
I remember they once boycotted me at school, and they protected me and reassured me. "The
uniqueness of Beit Lessin:
" It is a very homely theater, which manages to combine musicals, family plays and classics, and it is a very beautiful thing to me. "
My corona year:
" It was A very beautiful, sad, exciting, uncertain, close and intriguing time.
I went through a lot of processes with myself, and I had room for thought.
On the other hand, there was something very frightening about it all stopping suddenly.
To my delight, I managed to work and was photographed for Avi Nesher's 'Victory Picture' and a film by Jake Paltrow, Gwyneth's brother, called 'The Oven' and still in production.
It deals with the period of the Eichmann trial, and I play a representative of the Jewish Agency in it. "
The problematic attitude to the world of culture:
" I am very saddened and frustrated that no one has named us.
For my part, I did what I could to help those in need.
I organized for my singing friends performances in the private homes of people who wanted to host.
Everything I could, I did. "
My most important tip for beginners:" This is a tip I always give myself too: to watch as many movies and shows as possible, to enrich ourselves all the time, to learn more techniques, to get inspired. "
What I wish Beit Lessin for her birthday :
"First thing, let them return to full function.
And I wish that the theater will continue to be a home for its actors, that it will bring original and new and varied plays, that it will continue to develop over the years and that the people who lead it will continue to be human and work in a sensitive and connected way. "
"Tzipi Pines said there is no chance in the world that she will cast a child from Eilat for a show in Tel Aviv"
Tom Avni (35) started at Beit Lessin at the age of 9, in the play "The Jungle Book"
Today: Actor in the Be'er Sheva Theater, in film and television, and translator of plays
My first play:
"The musical 'The Jungle Book', in 1996. I was a child then and played Mowgli. It was the first time I went on stage, after in my city, Eilat, I would perform in a pantomime by the sea. I would come with a small tape and a hat Hanoch, who knew me from there, was looking for a child for the role of Mowgli and called my parents. I happened to be in Tel Aviv that day, and an impromptu audition was organized at the house of the musical director, Meron Minster. Tzipi Pines was abroad, so the video was auditioned for her.
She said she did not intend to watch the tape, because there is no chance in the world that she will cast a child from Eilat for a show in Tel Aviv.
The rest, of course, is history. "A
memory I take with me:
" 'The Jungle Book' was a dream come true for me in the most exciting and glorious way.
If until then I felt like I was playing in a small playground, suddenly I was given a very large playground.
I do not think I understood then the size of the class, and it is not clear to me how I had the courage.
Even today, before I go on stage, I rattle with excitement every night, even in the 200th play. "The
uniqueness of Beit Lessin:
" Tzipi Pines really has a special sense of identifying what will capture the audience.
I remember the first call we made to 'Tribes', a play I translated into Beit Lessin after watching it in New York and really believed in it.
After two scenes Tzipi stopped, thanked everyone and sent us home.
This usually means the play is catastrophic, but Tzipi said, 'Got it, it's going to be great.'
Indeed, the show was successful both among the critics and among the audience. "
My corona year:
" It's not pleasant to admit, but this year I had a pretty pleasant time.
I took advantage of the quality time with the family and with myself to rest for a moment, and to my delight I was photographed for 'Sabri Mernan' and Avi Nesher's film, 'Victory Picture'.
Of course, the absence of theater from my life is like amputating an organ in the body, and at first it was a total shock, but suddenly a lot of time was freed up, and it also made it pleasant to miss. "
The problematic attitude to the world of culture:
" A worldwide tragedy.
I have fellow actors on Broadway and in London who cry just like us.
Everyone has the same distress, with more question marks than answers.
I have a lot of complaints about the treatment of cultural figures, who have not worked for a whole year.
The problem with us starts already in the discourse, in the absence of culture.
Any connection between decision-makers and culture is fading away. "
My most important tip for beginning players:
" As Remy Weiberger said in 'Operation Grandma' - you start your most professional, and slowly you increase.
If you do not maintain a self-morality of strictness in the 150th play, as in the first play, you lose the taste very quickly.
For me, it's like religious piety: whenever I have a bad day, or I'm tired, I further aggravate my warm-up and preparations for the show. "
What I wish for Beit Lessin for his birthday:
"
Let him
know how to reinvent himself and change along with the changing world .
I wish it would continue to be the first door that opens for many more actors, because for me this is the place that gave me a first chance twice in my life, 20 years apart: both 'The Jungle Book' and the first play I translated for the theater - 'Tribes' - came up there. "
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