Israeli Playwrights Craft Apocalyptic Musical Reflecting Present-Day Israel
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli musical "Acharit Hayamim" reflects current reality.
- Plot involves Iran's atomic bomb and mass Shabbat observance.
- Protagonist is labeled a traitor for refusing to keep Shabbat.
- The play incorporates zombies and historical Jewish figures.
- It is presented as a hip-hop musical.
- Creators find satire difficult amid extreme reality.
The creators of the musical "Acharit Hayamim" (The End of Days) aimed to write an apocalyptic piece but ended up with a play reflecting current Israeli reality. The play's synopsis describes a scenario where Iran launches an atomic bomb, and the Israeli government, in a desperate act of defense, mandates a mass observance of Shabbat to hasten the Messiah's arrival, framing it as a singular Shabbat against the bomb.
The protagonist, Yoel, played by Uriel Yaniv, is the sole individual in Israel who refuses to observe Shabbat, even as a last resort. This defiance immediately labels him a national traitor. The plot escalates with zombie attacks and the intervention of historical Jewish heroes, all presented as a hip-hop musical. The creators explain that writing satire has become challenging when reality often seems more extreme than any fictional scenario.
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