Award-Winning Play Desert Sunrise
Lillian Theatre (Hollywood, CA)
Rated 3.3 by 25 members who went.
The critically-acclaimed play Desert Sunrise, by Israeli Army veteran Misha Shulman, will have its West Coast premiere at The Lillian Theatre. Desert Sunrise begins with a chance encounter between an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian shepherd seeking refuge in the West Bank. They meet warily, quarreling, laughing, fighting their way to a place of mutual acceptance. Just when it seems they have forged a bond, the Palestinian's girlfriend abruptly alters their trajectory.
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The last event was Saturday August 23, 2008 / 8:00pm. (view all dates)
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18 Member Reviews
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- Elizabeth
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Elizabeth
Member since 2007
30 Reviews
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I liked this play and I thought the actors were all very good. I didn't get the narrators, and I thought the backround belly dancers was an over kill. The theatre itself was very nice. I liked all the hebrew/arabic dialogue. The story line was very true, it wasnt over the top.
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- WILSON UY
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WILSON UY
Member since 2007
8 Reviews
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This is one of the most compelling play I've seen. The three characters were SUPERB and gave OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES. Everything about this play is wonderful... from the background music, the simple yet convincing stage design, costumes, the few arabic language they used made it more artsy. The dialogues are so captivating that you are drwan to the characters.
GO SEE THIS FIVE STAR excellent PLAY.
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- Jack Cohen
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Jack Cohen
Member since 2008
1 Reviews
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A very beautiful and powerful play with strong performances all around.
Highly recommended!
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- Elaine Schmidt
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Elaine Schmidt
Member since 2003
2 Reviews
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We attended the closing night of the play. We weren't thrilled when we arrived early but the play was delayed 30 minutes to allow late-comers to deal with traffic and parking. Once the first act began, however, we enjoyed the slow building of rapport and humor between the two talented male actors. The second act, unfortunately, dissolved into melodrama. The actress who played the female lead showed limited range. She wasn't believable and had trouble with her accent. The writing was uneven and self-conscious. The preachy narrator and belly dancer were over the top. I give it two stars if you leave after the first act.
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- joe
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joe
Member since 2008
4 Reviews
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Great story line in an intimate venue. Actors did a great job of embracing the story and helped us see the common issues that all people share, no matter race or religion.
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- SharG
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SharG
Member since 2005
4 Reviews
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Great actors. The story line post intermission gets a little heavy. Overall, a good show.
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- Allan Rich
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Allan Rich
Member since 2006
1 Reviews
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One of the best 99 seat theatre pieces I've seen in a long time. The theatre is beautiful, the set was wonderful, the acting and directing
superb.You will be genuinely moved by Desert Sunrise.
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- Marlene Martin-Zeavy
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Marlene Martin-Zeavy
Member since 2006
6 Reviews
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It's a very powerful and though provoking play.Great acting.It's definitley worth seeing.
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- Anonymous Member
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Anonymous Member
Member since 2006
1 Reviews
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Very good acting and fairly good story. Enjoyed the experience.
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- Casey Cannon
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Casey Cannon
Member since 2005
2 Reviews
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I was interestingly very surprized that i enjoyed in the big way i did.
Well written, directed and acted. It have soul to a consciousness
that is the vision of love in our future. Thank you for seeing in the dark.
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- Anonymous Member
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Anonymous Member
Member since 2008
1 Reviews
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It was a great and toughtful theater experience. I was grateful I made it.
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- Anonymous Member
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Anonymous Member
Member since 2006
1 Reviews
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Great show! Great acting!
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- dawn Muroff
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dawn Muroff
Member since 2008
1 Reviews
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The acting was superb. The story unfolded in a very meaningful, thought-provoking way. A tale such as this can very easily come across as simplistic or preachy, but this was neither. Thank you for your hard work!
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- Sheldon R.
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Sheldon R.
Member since 2005
17 Reviews
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I thought this was a very well acted. The story has its pleasant moments and its tragic moments. It graphically shows some of the problemswith finding a lasting peace.
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- Rose Ann
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Rose Ann
Member since 2006
2 Reviews
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Compelling, well-written drama covering a topic that is pertinent and universal--the ongoing strife between Palestinians and Israelis in the Middle East. Combining insightful dialogue, poetry and even dance, the playwright brings home several messages we can all learn from, while injecting enough humor and humanity to soften some of the blows. Highly recommended. Even though there are a few "gaps" in the rather brief performance, it's well worth seeing.
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- Thomas
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Thomas
Member since 2007
2 Reviews
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Great play! The acting was superb! I highly recommend it.
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- Royce Morales
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Royce Morales
Member since 2006
13 Reviews
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It was a controversial look at the Israel/Palestinian neverending conflict based on a human-to-human interaction that allows getting past all the insanity of war and violence. A very powerful statement!
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- Anonymous Member
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Anonymous Member
Member since 2008
1 Reviews
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More Details
Ellen Shipley, the renowned Grammy-nominated recording artist and songwriter (“Heaven is A Place on Earth”), returns to her theatre roots, as she directs this moving play about an Israeli soldier, a Palestinian shepherd and his Palestinian girlfriend, as they share their stories one memorable night in the West Bank desert, and recognize in each other the same fears, desires and tenderness. Set to star are Oren Dayan as Tsahi (NBC’s “Life”), Miriam Isa as Layla (Mambo Repossession) and Dominic Rains as Ismail (Dr. Leo Julian in “General Hospital”).
Desert Sunrise begins with a chance encounter between an Israeli soldier (Dayan) and a Palestinian shepherd (Rains) seeking refuge in a desert valley in the Israeli occupied West Bank. Warily, they circle each other, quarreling, laughing, joking, dancing, fighting their way to a place of mutual acceptance. Just when it seems they have forged a bond, the Palestinian’s girlfriend (Isa) – fueled by rage, despair and radical fundamentalism – abruptly alters their trajectory.
Over the course of one memorable night, the three – mistrustful and reluctant yet filled with longing for connection – share their stories and recognize in each other the same fears, desires and tenderness. Inexorably, they embrace one another with understanding, forgiveness and empathy.
The production uses the region’s languages, music and dance to envelope the audience in the mystical beauty and harsh realities that shape the protagonists’ experiences and underscore that these two cultures are inextricably bound. That deep fraternal connection is reinforced by setting the action in The South Hebron Hills, the same hills walked by Abraham, father of both the Jewish and Muslim nations.
