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An
Open Letter to Jim Nicola, Artistic Director, New York Theater
Workshop
Who is Afraid of Rachel Corrie?
By WARREN GUYKEMA
Dear Mr. Nicola:
I write an open letter to encourage
you to set a firm date for the opening of "My Name is Rachel
Corrie" and to ask you to help me understand what is going
on at the workshop that caused it to "postpone" the
production that, while apparently not "announced" as
firm, was deemed certain enough that its London-based authors
booked flights to New York to see it, and tickets were advertised
on the Internet.
I live in Olympia, Washington
and am a friend and supporter of the Corrie family, and also
a friend of Andrew Ford Lyons, with whom you recently corresponded.
I also read widely, and notice a substantial difference in your
very personal response to Mr. Lyons -- it was simply all about
having enough time, though this is a one-actor play and the actor
knows the play cold -- and the report in The New York Times that
you polled "the Jewish community" and detected a lot
of edginess about several factors that really have nothing to
do with the magnificent life Rachel lived for 23 years which
is enshrined in this award-winning play. Now I see on your web
site the suggestion that you are simply waiting to hear from
the Royal Court Theatre in London. Which is it, Jim?
In a lifetime of playgoing,
journalism and public service, I can't recall a theatre company
polling any particular community to determine whether or when
a dramatic work should be presented. The fact that you have done
this and, on the basis of the results, have "postponed"
this drama to a time uncertain makes me extremely uncomfortable
about whether the arts are to retain their traditional, vigorous
freedom of subject and expression. I speak as one who has consistently
opposed attempts by the National Endowment for the Arts or other
groups to pressure or influence what artists do.
One of my questions concerns
your perception of "the Jewish community." Many of
the outstanding voices against the occupation of Palestine are
those of Jewish organizations. For exampe, Brit Tzedek v Shalom.
And the New York-based Jews Against the Occupation. Did you speak
to those leaders? And was it in any sense a scientific poll,
or was it just calling around to some friends of one of your
benefactors?
And why did you do this, Jim?
Have you ever "polled" the gay/lesbian/transgender
community, or the anti-abortion community, or the evangelical
community? Specifically, I ask you if this "poll" was
a response to any contact from the Mayor's office, as is being
rumored on both sides of the Atlantic.
I will not cry censorship,
but I will tell you that I am extremely uncomfortable, especially
at a time when faculty members of leading educational institutions
from New York to Los Angeles are under intense pressure if they
don't hue to the State of Israel/AIPAC line. Not to mention all
the machinations of the Bush administration to perpetuate its
views.
You have spoken of "sinister
forces" which will try to use this play to their own ends.
Since when is that a standard for making artistic judgments?
And what are those "sinister forces," Jim? Could you
be referring to those who oppose the State of Israel's 39-year
occupation of Palestinian lands? Much of the civilized world,
including Jewish groups, mainline Protestant and Cathlic groups
and probably the majority of Europeans oppose the occupation.
Were these the "sinister groups" to which you were
referring?
I am an Episcopalian. My church
is actively involved in "corporate engagement" to discourage
the makers of Caterpillar D9s -- for example -- from doing business
with the Israeli Defense Force. Are we Episcopalians "sinister?"
The workshop's action in "postponing"
this play has catapulted it into a spotlight. Thousands of people
will be asking the same questions I put to you here, and many
will do so more stridently, and will have more questions. I'm
not trying to begin a debate. I'm wanting to support you in your
statement that you want to produce this play.
To get out of this firestorm,
I believe you have to be totally forthcoming on these questions.
And the fastest way to end the controversy will be simply to
announce a firm performance schedule in the fall of 2006. Jim,
only you can assure that you will present this work with integrity,
as you state on your website. But you will never be able to control
how groups with varying positions will view this or other work
you might produce, nor will their views ever impeach your integrity.
Sincerely,
Warren Guykema
Warren Guykema is a member of the Bishop's Committee
on Justice and Peace in Israel-Palestine of the Episcopal Diocese
of Olympia (Western Washington) and also of the Olympia-Rafah
Sister City Project. Before retiring, he owned a printing business
and earlier served as a state official and as a reporter and
department manager for media companies in Seattle. He can be
reached at Warren_Guykema@Comcast.net
Finally
Available
from CounterPunch Books!
The Case
Against Israel
By Michael Neumann
CounterPunch
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