It's just so Russian!

Tonight I scored two free tickets to the "premiera" of Chekhov's "Hadod Vanya" (need I translate?). Let's just say it pays to have cultured parents who leave town periodically. I invited my friend, Reut, who was particularly helpful in pointing out all the "semi-celebs" having their photos snapped in the lobby of the theater. I wouldn't have lifted my eyes from all the fabulously eccentric footwear in our midst had Reut not nudged me periodically to point out members of Knesset, anchormen and anorexic escorts. We had dinner at the theater restaurant, where I managed to embarrass myself by intruding on a conversation with one such "big macher." Spotting my parents' friend a few yards from our table, I shot up and tapped her on the shoulder, only to realize she was having a serious discussion with Dalia Rabin, daughter of the late Yitzhak Rabin and member of Knesset. She was nice enough to introduce me, but I felt a little sheepish at having bounded in as I did.

So... Chekhov in Hebrew. All that dialogue about boredom and mediocrity didn't really seem to jibe with the Israeli character. I think the comment of the gentleman to my left, which he uttered five minutes into Act I in a not-so-hushed manner to his wife, summed things up well: "It's just so RUSSIAN, all this TALKING!" Somehow Chekhov can both move you and bore you to tears. But it was a great treat to see two of my favorite Israeli actors on stage: Vanya was played by Sasson Gabai (terrific!!), whom you might now from the recent film "The Band's Visit" (in which he plays the conductor of the Egyptian police band, in flawless Arabic!), and the doctor was played by Lior Ashkenazi, whom I loved in "Walk on Water" and "A Late Marriage." So you see? You don't need Hollywood for celebrity-sightings!