A Comedy with Eight Funerals

 

 

"Look, we didn't come into this world just to complain about illnesses. Nor did we come into this world to count money. And we didn't come into this world to play bridge. Nevertheless, the one real thing that we do have to say, we never say."

 

What is that real thing that we never say? And how much sorrow, disappointment, loneliness and despair does one man have to suffer until he discovers that real thing, until he wins a bit of human affection, until he fulfills his desires, and gets to travel, for example, to Switzerland? These questions are raised in Hanoch Levin's play Suitcase Packers, which he himself described as "a play set in our times and location, comprising 6 families, 5 lovers, 3 single women, 9 deceased, 8 funerals, 4 widowers, 3 Americans, 11 suitcases, a baby, a homosexual, a prostitute, a stutterer and a hunchback – all of whom are very unhappy."

 

 

Suitcase Packers was recently staged at the Tzavta theater in Tel Aviv by student members of the Weizmann Institute of Science's theater group, which was established in 2002. The students enjoy dealing with the existential questions the theater poses – as well as removing themselves once in a while from the questions that science poses. In their spare time, the students research the world of theater, combining humanity's questions with new friendships. Through improvisation and dialogue, and with the guidance of actress, director and drama teacher Irit Natan-Benedek, their efforts come to fruition each year in a theatrical production by the ensemble.

 

 

"We have always dreamt of staging one of Levin's plays," says Inbal Friedler. "The work was intensive and hard, often continuing into the night; but in the end – thanks to Irit's energy, vigor and talent – we could see the play taking shape."