Dov and Ali
When a young, liberal-minded Jewish teacher and his strong-willed Muslim student lock horns in a discussion over Lord of the Flies they’re in familiar territory.
But as the argument spills over into questions of faith, morality and family values, both men reach crisis point as their high-minded ideals clash with harsh reality.
The age-old conflict- set in Detroit - not only between the Arabs and Israelis but between emotion and intellect is deftly handled by writer Anna Ziegler, without becoming too heavy-handed.
The teacher, Dov ( Ben Turner) believes that an element of uncertainty is desirable in order to stay open-minded. Yet if he’s certain about one thing, it’s that his Muslim student Ali is too sure of himself.
For Ali ( James Floyd ) being right is more important than being happy. We see the student’s unswerving belief system through Floyd’s vigorous, intense portrayal, punctuated by flashes of incandescent anger.
The action takes on a new dimension when – much to his dismay - Dov’s girlfriend Sonya breezes in - played by Orla Fitzgerlad as a no-nonsense, sassy blonde; font of forthright opinion, not only on literature but also relationships.
Such is his fear of his Orthodox Jewish parents’ reaction to Sonya’s “Aryan look” that Dov has kept his relationship secret for two years.
Ali’s sister Sameh ( Kiran Landa ) is the narrator, a tricky role, being on the sidelines to the main action, but one that she that she develops beautifully.
Designer Morgan Large sets the scene in monochrome - a white board scrawled with sound bites stands out against a stark black setting – but the issues raised are hardly black and white, whatever Ali thinks.
A leavening of humorous touches adds light relief to the weighty issues and illuminates the characters’ personal lives.
Alex Sims, fresh from a year as assistant director at the Donmar Warehouse, makes a promising and sensitive debut as director of this world premiere.
The quartet of actors offer up impassioned performances in their struggle to attain the ideal Sameh dreams of, in which “fear and hate make way for hope."
Angela Lord
Dov and Ali, Theatre 503, The Latchmere Theatre, Battersea Park Road, London SW11, until 5th July, www.theatre503.com
