Laura Rivlin: 'Today you're afraid of what to say, it's become a mess'

The play 'Birds All' premiered at the Beit Lessin Theater, with only 50 performances. Laura Rivlin, who plays the grandmother, talks about the play dealing with love between a Jew and an Arab woman, about the experience in Paris with actors from hostile countries, and about the fear of reactions in Israel: 'Today you're afraid of what you'll say, it's become a mess'.

Last night (Thursday), the play 'Birds All' premiered at the Beit Lessin Theater, named after Baruch Ivcher, and will run for only 50 performances. The work, by Wajdi Mouawad, was first staged nine years ago at the National Theater of France and won the Grand Prix award. The plot begins with a love story between a Jewish genetics student and a young woman of Arab descent, and takes a turn when the protagonist discovers a family secret through scientific tools. Rivlin, who participated in the original production in Paris, spoke about working with actors from hostile countries, including a Syrian refugee whose two brothers are in prison, and about the feeling that the peace process happens during rehearsals. In an interview, she addressed the sensitivity of the audience in Israel: 'Today you're afraid. You're afraid of what you'll say, it's become a mess,' and noted that she believes in the power of theater to heal. The play was described by 'Le Monde' as 'breathtaking,' directed by Yair Sherman and translated by Eli Bijaoui.