Briah, a new play opening at Off-Off-Broadway's La MaMa Dec. 20-30, is about creation, the magical mystery of how "nothing" gives rise to "something."
In this play, a poet, using only desire and imagination, creates a woman. He converses with this imaginary woman through the poems he writes. Suffering from an incurable skin disease, he longs for comfort from his imaginary woman. She takes various forms: his childhood sweetheart, his nurturing mother, his perfect wife and his bold lover. Although this woman fulfills his every need, he selfishly refuses to grant her one wish: to become flesh and blood and serve as the mother of his children.
Inspired by the Spanish poets of the Golden age, Israeli playwright Yossefa Even-Shoshan bases Briah on the life-story of Shlomo Ibn-Gabirol, one of the great poets of that era. Biographical facts, poems, philosophical works, Jewish history and myths are combined in this hour-long production. Briah is a collection of verses in English, Hebrew and Arabic mixed with middle-eastern movements and live music.
Director Geula Jeffet Attar directs Briah which stars Victor Attar and Mira Anwar Awad. Briah is a part of The La MaMa Experimental Theater Club's 40th anniversary season. For tickets, please visit or call the box office at La Mama E.T.C. (212)475-7710.
— By Zoe Andrada