"Wahad 'al Mashi"

A close translation of Harold Pinter's
One for the Road
Director: Sameh Hijazi
The Palestinian National Theatre productions -2000

Harold Pinter is the consequence of a post-war generation that has struggled to renounce the evils of the Twentieth century and offer a new outlook on society. Born in London in 1930, he refrained from pursuing his studies and later on candidly stated that he is not an academic. Refraining from military service at the age of 18 he wrote several important plays such as "The Homecoming" and "No Man's Land". "One for the Road" is an honest witness to his concern with the human condition as it is. It tackles a number of issues at a time and puts the spectator at a wonder as to how a human being is supposed to react upon detecting the present state of the world. Without hesitation, a truthful observer would be concerned instantly in finding and engaging in a solution.
Sameh Hijazi, a Palestinian theatre director and scriptwriter, has been active in the Palestinian theatre scene for many years now, translating and directing many successful plays. Starting his career with Ashtar theatre he recently moved to the Palestinian National Theatre where he is currently based. In the Palestinian version of "one on the road" as Hijazi portrays is, the attitude is neither inciting nor implying a clear cut position. They "just warn you that if you choose to see it, you will experience a bold attempt to touch on several taboos in Arab society."
The play will be performed at the Palestinian Na-tional Theatre in April. Check the listings section for the dates.