Adapted by Yevgeny Arye and Yelena Laskina Director: Yevgeny Arye
The play Momik is based on the first part of the novel "See Under: Love" by bestselling Israeli author David Grossman. It brings the story of Momik's childhood in Jerusalem in the 1950s, and of his investigations into the "Nazi Beast", triggered by arrival of his Grandfather Anshel, a survivor of the German Concentration camps
Momik is a nine year-old boy. His father and mother are Polish Jews, Holocaust survivors. Momik is the only child who is raised in an atmosphere of silence, secrecy, and hidden pain. Grown-ups refuse to answer Momik's questions about their life "Over There", and he creates an imaginary land "Over There" where his family happily lived before the war. All the people surrounding Momik are from "Over There", and all of them have painful memories of the "Nazi Beast" that tortured them and killed their families
Co-Director – Lena Kreindlin Musical Arrangement and Sound Design – Michael Vaisburd Set – Michael Kramenko Costumes – Rakefet Levy Lighting – Bueno Avi Iona (Bambi) Hebrew text – Ben Bar-Shavit Speech – Yonni Lukas
(b. 1954, Jerusalem, Israel) studied philosophy and theater at the Hebrew University. He began a 25-year career at Israel Radio at the age of 10 as a correspondent for youth broadcasts. Grossman`s prose is intricate, structurally complex and noted for its daring and innovative technique. Injustice as a human phenomenon is a central theme, hither it is a socio-political condition or psychological obsession. Internationally acclaimed as a superb author, David Grossman expresses the courage, pain and occasionally brutal truth of Israeli reality with a strength and honesty rarely equaled.
Books in translation: The Jogger The Yellow Wind The Zigzag Kid See under: Love The Smile of the Lamb Riki`s Kindergarden (play) The Book of Intimate Grammar Sleeping on a Wire: Conversations with Palestinians in Israel You Shall Be My Knife Once There Were Two Monkeys Duel Itamar Series Someone to Run With Her Body Knows Death As a Way of Life
Rave Reviews for Momik
“A show that comes from love and is sensitively made, that cannot leave audiences indifferent. Yevgeny Arie has created a refined show, which really has a great deal of charm.” -- Maariv
“A magical show that speaks in the language of fairytales. Brilliant, powerful and exciting!” – Maariv, Promo
“A bare, powerful experience that leaves audiences stunned. Every minute, something impressive and interesting happens on the stage.” - Haaretz
“Yevgeny Arie creates an impressive collection of impressive and colorful stage scenes, in a well-orchestrated performance, in the comic-grotesque style of the troupe’s actors, who create a collection of human and touching caricatures. The charming child, Guy Krasner, simply steals the show. Beautiful, funny, bitter and moving.” – Yediot Aharonot
“Yevgeny Arie once again tries his hand with literature and gives it a rich theatrical expression. A stage portrayal full of imagination, moving and captivating visual structures that very quickly gain their own existence, independent of the source that inspired their creation. Excellent acting by Ruth Khilovsky in the role of Momik’s mother, and by Leonid Kanievsky in the role of his father.” – HaBama
“One of the rare times that a stage adaptation of an original work does it good. The show is a must-see because of its quality and of the wonderful ability of the director, adaptor and designer Yevgeny Arie, who proves there is no limit to his diverse powers of creation and design. The show is wonderful, which everyone deserves to experience and enjoy.” - Tzfon Ha’ir Tel Aviv
“Gesher’s stage version of “See Under: Love” does only good to David Grossman’s story. Give them a chance, over there, at Gesher. They’re worth it.” – Bamachane
“A short, well-focused and solid play, for which the playwright-adaptors deserve special praise. Yevgeny Arie’s directing is professional and skillful in its pace, atmosphere, precise and diverse design and ability to illustrate the characteristic atmosphere and style of the novel. The real star of the show is the child, Guy Krasner, in the role of young Momik. Not a wonder boy but simply a professional actor who portrays a theatrical role just right.” – Hatzofe
“Combine David Grossman’s story-telling qualities with the unique stage visions of Israel’s top director – Yevgeny Arie, together with the fantastic design of Michael Kremenko, and you get a magical show that will no doubt be taking off overseas before long. Gesher’s entire troupe manages to transport the magical atmosphere of the book to the stage with great success.” - Zman Tel Aviv
“Each scene of the show is a celebration of compositions! In this show, Yevgeny Arie justifies every superlative he has earned throughout his many years of activity in Israeli theater. Momik is a complete show, precise as a well-tuned violin, tugging at the heartstrings.” – Makor Rishon
“Funny and moving! Yevgeny Arie knows how to create an impressive collection of colorful stage scenes. The troupe’s actors create a collection of human and touching caricatures. A sad and beautiful show that manages to touch both heart and soul” – Galey Tzahal
