"Glossary Miri Mesika": London visitors praise the Israeli singer and the "visit of the orchestra"

British newspapers and websites liked the version of the musical that came to London from Broadway for the movie "Visit of the Orchestra", starring Alon Abutbul and Miri Mesika.

The last one in particular received huge compliments.

"Miri Mesika Zohar";

"Simply a victory: her voice is so rich, so velvety, that you get lost in its depths"

Walla!

culture

07/10/2022

Friday, October 7, 2022, 7:58 p.m. Updated: 8:04 p.m.

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Miri Mesika performs "Omer Sharif" from the musical "Visit of the Orchestra" (DonmarWarehouse)

On Thursday, the musical "Visit of the Orchestra" premiered in London, based on Eran Kolirin's film of the same name from 2007.

Alon Abutbol stepped into the shoes of Sasson Gabbai in the role of Tawfik, the reclusive Egyptian orchestra conductor who comes to Israel with his men, and Miri Mesika played Dina, the owner of the warm-hearted cafe who lives in the development town they happened upon, a role played by Ronit Elkabats in the film version.

The musical premiered on Off-Broadway in New York in 2016, and the following year won ten Tony Awards, including for Best Musical and for the actors in the lead roles, Tony Shalhoub ("The Wonderful Mrs. Maisel") and Katrina Lenk ("Ozark").

Now the play made its debut in the English capital to the applause of the critics.

"Stunning performance. Miri Masika, "Visit of the Orchestra" (Photo: Marc Brenner)

"Michael Longhurst's European premiere features a cosmopolitan cast, with a standout vocal performance by Israeli star Miri Masika," wrote the Evening Standard, which gave the show 4 stars.

"The production is slow in some of the early moments, hectic in others, but as a fantasy of micro-level harmony in a troubled area, it is absolutely charming."

The Guardian also gave the show 4 stars, praising the singer's singing in particular.

"A stunning performance by the Israeli performer Miri Masika, each song reveals new textures in her voice, from prickly iron to quivering velvet."

Time Out London also gave 4 stars, praising the delicacy of the musical and the story.

About the actors, the critic wrote: "These are not big flashy roles: everyone on stage actually has a small part that they perform a stamp, and it feels as if the sum is greater than its parts, a living snapshot of a temporary community."

More in Walla!

Sasson Gabbai on winning the "Visit of the Orchestra": "I was most excited when they thanked Ronit Alkabatz"

To the full article

Plays Tawfik beautifully.

Alon Abutbol, ​​"Visit of the Orchestra" (Photo: Marc Brenner)

The musical was also covered on websites dedicated to the theater.

On WhatsOnStage, the reviewer gave the play itself 3 stars, praising many elements in it but less liking that some of the characters are not developed enough, beyond the main ones.

She praises the actors: "Alon Abutbol brings a heavy respect and a sense of restrained emotion in an enormous way", while "Miri Mesika is radiant, the richness of her voice contributes to her ability to transmit emotions with a wink of an eye or a shrug of the shoulder".

In London Theater they gave the musical 4 stars, and they especially liked the scene where Taufik teaches Dina how to play on an orchestra.

"Each of them opened up the other, and what passes between them is now beyond words," wrote the visitor.

"This dynamic is treated with gentle respect by Alon Muni Abutbul, who gradually sheds Tawfik's difficult layers, and Miri Masika, the Israeli star singer. The latter is simply a triumph: her voice is so rich, so velvety, that one gets lost in its depths."

Broadway World gave the play 5 stars and called it "a minimalist production with a big heart", and concluded that the play is "simply sublime, a must watch for a lesson on empathy, kindness and the power of music".

She called Masika "the real star of the show".

Theater Weekly also awarded 5 stars and wrote that "it is the routine of 'The Orchestra's Visit' that makes it extraordinary. It is not built in the typical structure of a musical, and the story is simple but profound. It is an essential piece of theater."

About Abutbol, ​​the review says that he portrays Tawfik beautifully, and "Mesika gives a powerful performance in this role, with an amazing vocal performance."

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