My Name Is Rachel Corrie

My Name is Rachel Corrie
Place premiered London, England
Original language English
Genre Political
My Name Is Rachel Corrie at Playhouse Theatre, London, 2006.

My Name is Rachel Corrie is a play based on the diaries and emails of peace-activist Rachel Corrie, who was killed by an IDF soldier when she was aged 23.[1] It was jointly edited by journalist Katharine Viner and actor Alan Rickman who also directed it.

Rachel Corrie (April 10, 1979 – March 16, 2003) was an American Evergreen State College student and member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) who traveled to the Gaza Strip during the Second Intifada. She was killed in the Gaza Strip by a Caterpillar D9R armored bulldozer operated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) while protecting the family home of local pharmacist Samir Nasrallah from destruction by the IDF.[2][3][4][5]

Initial stagings and response

Alan Rickman first staged My Name is Rachel Corrie in April 2005 at the Royal Court Theatre, London, and the play went on to win the Theatregoers' Choice Awards for Best Director and Best New Play, as well as Best Solo Performance for actress Megan Dodds.[6]

The play was scheduled to be transferred to the New York Theatre Workshop in March 2006. However, the New York theatre decided that, because of its political content, the play was to be "postponed indefinitely", after the artistic director polled numerous Jewish groups to get their reaction to the play.[7] Rickman and Viner denounced the decision and withdrew the show.[8][9]

Rickman said: "I can only guess at the pressures of funding an independent theatre company in New York, but calling this production "postponed" does not disguise the fact that it has been cancelled. This is censorship born out of fear, and the New York Theatre Workshop, the Royal Court, New York audiences - all of us are the losers."[10]

The play ran as a commercial production at the Minetta Lane Theatre in Greenwich Village in the fall of 2006.[11]

Reviews

Cover of book version of play.

The play received the following review from Michael Billington in April 2005:

...Corrie went to Gaza specifically to support Palestinians whose homes were being demolished and makes no attempt to hide her partiality.

And, while she distinguishes between Jewish people and Israeli politicians, she is appalled by what she sees: the checkpoints that prevent people getting to jobs and places of education, the casual destruction of wells, the children who grow up with tank-shell holes in their walls. Theatre has no obligation to give a complete picture. Its only duty is to be honest. And what you get here is a stunning account of one woman's passionate response to a particular situation. And the passion comes blazing through in Corrie's eloquent reaction to her father's inquiry about Palestinian violence. As she says, if we lived where tanks and soldiers and bulldozers could destroy our homes at any moment and where our lives were completely strangled, wouldn't we defend ourselves as best we could? The danger of right-on propaganda is avoided by the specificity of Rickman's Theatre Upstairs production. Above all, this is a portrait of a woman....[12]

Reviewing a performance in Manhattan in 2015, a reviewer wrote:

"At the performance I reviewed, Hemming met and far exceeded the demands, as evidenced by the stunning silence and tears which were wiped away by the end of the 90 minute show (including my own). Hemmings brings a vital urgency to a girl who "still really wants to dance around to Pat Benatar and have boyfriends and make comics for my co-workers" but also just wants the injustices to stop. ...Corrie is no longer with us, but her enduring words remind us of the possibility for change and that those who seek it with passion and sincerity will have not lived their lives — whatever the length — in vain." [13]

Other stagings

My Name is Rachel Corrie played at the West End's Playhouse Theatre in London from March through May 2006. In July 2006 Josephine Taylor took over the role and the show played the Galway Arts Festival, before moving to the Edinburgh Fringe in August. It opened at the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York in October 2006, with Megan Dodds returning as Corrie, and closed on December 17, 2006.[14]

The recent production was reviewed by Peter Birnie of the Vancouver Sun January 29, 2008:

An excellent piece of polemic, My Name is Rachel Corrie is a powerful slap at the state of Israel. Weighing the show simply on its merits as left-wing agitprop, this is a compelling production. The play asks us to condemn Israel's heavy-handed treatment of Palestinians, and does so with compelling intelligence. It closes with a particularly powerful piece of video, showing an adolescent Rachel Corrie speaking with youthful enthusiasm about helping shape a better world.

Fine. Okay. But can we please see a companion piece of theatre about a certain desert-kingdom royal family and its deep complicity in fomenting terrorism against, among many others, Israel and the world's Jewish communities? Let's call it My Name is Osama bin Laden.[15]

Variety reports:

Jack Rose, from the CanStage board while admitting he has neither read nor seen the script said that "my view was it would provoke a negative reaction in the Jewish community." And philanthropist Bluma Appel, after whom CanStage's flagship theater is named, concurred. "I told them I would react very badly to a play that was offensive to Jews."[16]

The Seattle Repertory Theatre ran My Name is Rachel Corrie from March 15 to May 6, 2007, directed by Braden Abraham, featuring Marya Sea Kaminski as Corrie. This showing drew publicity and spawned the creation of a website, Rachel Corrie Facts, intended to provide information and context to balance to what many perceive as a "one-sided, anti-Israel diatribe."[17]

The Australian premiere of My Name is Rachel Corrie opened on May 14, 2008 at Downstairs Belvoir St Theatre. It had an extended season and was nominated for Best Performer (Belinda Bromilow), Best Direction (Shannon Murphy) and Best Independent Production (Bareboards Production) at the Sydney Theatre Critics Awards for 2008, winning the latter. The production was also featured on the SBS television program Dateline.

The Kitchen & Roundhouse Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland, staged a one-time performance on July 21, 2007. It was directed by Lise Bruneau and featured Mindy Woodhead as Rachel.[18]

My Name Is Rachel Corrie was one of the featured plays of the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, shown from July 6–29, 2007. Ed Herendeen was the director, and Anne Marie Nest played Corrie.

Purple Bench Productions produced the play in Chicago September 12 - October 5, 2008. Jessie Fisher portrayed Corrie and it was directed by Emmy Kreilkamp.[19]

Some performances have featured post-show discussions.[20]

The New Repertory Theatre[21] in Watertown, Massachusetts staged My Name is Rachel Corrie on March 8 April 5, 2008. Directed by David R. Gammons, featuring Stacy Fischer as Rachel Corrie. The production was played in rep with Pieces by Israeli-American Zohar Tirosh as part of a larger project entitled Their Voices Will Be Heard: Artists Respond to the Israeli/Palestinian Situation, which also included readings of plays by Nitzan Halperin, Meron Langsner (who at the time was New Rep's NNPN playwright in residence), and Larry Loebell, as well as film screenings and academic panels. New Rep published a pamphlet of critical responses entitled Supporting Voices/Dissenting Voices which was co-edited by Meron Langsner and M. Bevin O'Garra to accompany the theatrical events.

A reading of the play took place in Dublin, Ireland, on March 15, 2008, at the Project Arts Centre. The reading was presented by Amnesty International Irish Section and Fishamble theatre company. Actress Megan Riordan performed the reading.

In 2007, the play was staged in Lima, Peru, at La Plaza ISIL theater under the direction of Nishme Sumar and featuring Gisela Ponce De Leon as Corrie. This was the first performance of the play in a Spanish-speaking country.[22]

Theatre Yes in Edmonton, Alberta, staged My Name is Rachel Corrie March 28 - April 12, 2008.

Theatre PANIK[23] staged the play at Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, opening May 29, 2008 with Bethany Jillard performing the role. All four local daily papers gave the play and the actress enthusiastic reviews, but the theatre critic Lynn Slotkin in CBC Toronto radio show Here and Now[24] was highly critical of every aspect of the play.

The Kraine Theater in Manhattan staged the show under the direction of Ashley Marinaccio and Robert Gonyo of Co-Op Theatre East . The show was unique in that there were two actors portraying Rachel Corrie — Theresa Christine and Stephanie Shafir as the young Rachel Corrie.[25]

In October, 2015 the play was staged at the Corpus Playroom, Cambridge, UK. Rachel Corrie was portrayed by Ella Duffy, the daughter of Carol Ann Duffy. The show received critical acclaim, described as "a brilliant, barnstorming performance".[26][27]

The play was staged in Winnipeg, Canada at the Irish Association of Manitoba, as part of the 2016 MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts. The staging featured the role of Corrie and the other figures in her life divided between five actors. The production did consultation and post-show talkbacks with Independent Jewish Voices.[28]

Confirmed performances

United States

Canada

International

References

  1. Ben Norton (2016-01-14). "Remembering Alan Rickman's pro-Palestinian play about Rachel Corrie, American activist crushed by Israeli bulldozer". Salon.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  2. "The Death of Rachel Corrie". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  3. "American peace activist killed by army bulldozer in Rafah" Haaretz March 18, 2003
  4. Philip Rizk in Gaza City (2008-09-09). "Gaza's tunnel economy stumbles". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  5. Israeli Army Bulldozer Kills American Protesting in Gaza The New York Times, March 17, 2003
  6. Viner, Katherine (8 April 2005). "Let me fight my monsters'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
  7. McKinley, Jesse (28 February 2006). "Play About Demonstrator's Death is Delayed". New York Times. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
  8. Borger, Julian (28 February 2006). "Rickman slams 'censorship' of play about US Gaza activist'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  9. Healy, Patrick (18 February 2009). "Workshop May Present Play Critical Of Israel". New York Times. Retrieved 19 February 2009. The London producers called the workshop's move censorship
  10. Ryan Leeds , Manhattan Digest, 8 April 2015
  11. Robertson, Campbell (6 December 2006). "Rachel Corrie' to close". New York Times. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
  12. Sun Review
  13. 'Corrie' canceled in Canada December 22, 2006
  14. Should anti-Israel play be staged? Jewish Theatre 2005
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  16. "My name is rachel corrie". Contemporary American Theater Festival. July 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-07-04. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
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  18. PUCP | Portal de Noticias
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  20. "CBC Radio Show Program Logs : Radio Show Index : HERE AND NOW". 2008-06-05. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009.
  21. Shahadi, Joseph (6 April 2009). "Artist Interview: Co-Op Theatre East". Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  22. Ben Brown (2015-10-28). "Review: My Name is Rachel Corrie | Varsity Online". Varsity.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  23. "Show: My Name is Rachel Corrie". Camdram.net. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  24. MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts in Winnipeg, MB: Event Calendar.
  25. Theater Addresses Tension Over Play by Jesse McKinley at The New York Times March 16, 2006
  26. Bulldozed by Naiveté critical of the play by Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal Saturday, October 21, 2006
  27. artsjournal.com
  28. Notes From a Young Idealist in a World Gone Awry by Ben Brantley NY Times
  29. 'Rachel Corrie' in London: Requiem for an Idealist by Matt Wolf NY Times
  30. Rachel Corrie is not done talking Performance's director Alan Rickman: "Censorship born out of fear."
  31. My Name is Rachel Corrie (Off-Broadway) by Broadway.com
  32. Katharine Viner: Channeling Rachel Corrie - Broadway Tickets by Broadway.com 10.17.2006
  33. Headlines: My Name Is Rachel Corrie Announces 12/17 Closing Date by Broadway.com
  34. Fresh Face:Megan Dodds
  35. Headlines: London Headliner Megan Dodds to Reprise Role in Off-B'way Rachel Corrie by Broadway.com
  36. Headlines: Controversial Play Rachel Corrie to Land at the Minetta Lane in October by Broadway.com
  37. Photographs of the Play by Broadway.com
  38. The Second Life of Rachel Corrie by Jason Fitzgerald
  39. Theater Review: The Controversial My Name is Rachel Corrie Finally Opens in New York
  40. My Name is Rachel Corrie, Madison, WI The Daily Page The Guide by Isthmus (newspaper)
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  46. Contemporary American Theater Festival Launches its 17th Season of New American Plays at Shepherd University in Sherpherdstown, West Virginia by Grace Cavalieri at Montserrat Review
  47. Contemporary American Theater Festival Archive July 6 - 29, 2007 Festival Reviewed by Brad Hathaway at Potomacstages.com
  48. Review of "My Name is Rachel Corrie" by Mary Ann Fay associate professor of Middle East history at Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD at History News Network
  49. Disputed play appears at other Ashland theater by Polina Olsen at Jewish Review (Oregon & Southwest Washington)
  50. Art and Politics: Psychoanalyisis, Ideology, Theatre Book by Walter A. Davis, Professor Emeritus, Ohio State University Published by Pluto Press Distributed in the United States by the University of Michigan Press
  51. Nuwandart picks up 'My Name Is Rachel Corrie' by Robert Plain at Ashland Daily Tidings August 25, 2007
  52. Anatomy of a play postponed by Chris Honoré, Tidings correspondent, at Ashland Daily Tidings August 25, 2007
  53. His name is Peter Alzado Opinion/Editorial at Ashland Daily Tidings August 25, 2007
  54. Mosaic's creator started with a dream by Christine Dolen at The Miami Herald daily newspaper Fri, November 21, 2008
  55. 'Let me fight my monsters' by Katherine Viner published at The Guardian daily newspaper Friday 8 April 2005
  56. My Name Is Rachel Corrie: In her own words Courtney Patterson portrays American activist by Curt Holman Published 09.12.07
  57. Bold Voices: My Name is Rachel Corrie Synchronicity Performance Group Official Site
  58. My Name is Rachel Corrie 2008 Tours Countdown Theatre Official Blog
  59. Conversation starter Rachel Corrie play-discussion opens political series by Lisa Bornstein, Published in Rocky Mountain News daily newspaper September 24, 2007
  60. My Name Is Rachel Corrie A dead reckoning in Gaza A Review by Juliet Wittman published in The Denver Westworld Magazine on October 02, 2007
  61. Touring play ‘My Name is Rachel Corrie’ brings story of young activist in Israel/Palestine to Goshen Goshen College
  62. `My Name Is Rachel Corrie' Plays In Denver Colorado Progressive Jewish News
  63. Review: "My Name is Rachel Corrie" critic of the play by Bob Bows in The Denver Post daily newspaper 10.04.2007
  64. Actress embraces soul of the controversial Rachel Corrie by Ollie Reed Jr. in Alberque Tribune Friday, February 15, 2008
  65. "My Name is Rachel Corrie" Staged In Des Moines, Iowa by Michael Gillespie published in Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, April 2008, page 58
  66. 'My Name is Rachel Corrie' by Susan Stein at The Arcata Eye Newspaper October 16, 2007
  67. My Name is Rachel Corrie Organic Theater Company Official Site
  68. A stage production by the Organic Underground Collective Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East Press Release
  69. Vıterbo Theatre Department To Present My Name Is Rachel Corrıe January 31–February 2 at Viterbo University News Releases
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  74. "Corrie's Life Follows Script at United Artists" Three-and-a-Half Stars by Ted Hadley The Buffalo News(primary newspaper of the Buffalo, New York) Contributing Reviewer
  75. Subversive Theatre gets a place it can call its own by Colin Dabkowski News Arts Writer at The Buffalo News(primary newspaper of the Buffalo, New York) 09.05.2008
  76. Theır Voıces Wıll Be Heard: My Name Is Rachel Corrıe And Pıeces New Repertory Theatre Official Page
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  79. flyer
  80. 'Rachel Corrie' plays to conflicted emotions by Marcus Crowder at The Sacramento Bee daily newspaper Published Page 1D, Tuesday, May. 19, 2009
  81. Acclaimed controversial play opens for first time in California community theater, says theater company by Jenn Walker, published on SacramentoPress.com May 17, 2009
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  89. Becoming Rachel Ottawa XPress Music Magazine
  90. Double-digit dramatists Sage celebrates 10 years of independent theatre by Jeff Kubik Published in Fast Forward Weekly(FFWD) Newspaper August 30, 2007, Calgary
  91. Plagues, Pearls and pedophiles Sage Theatre gears up for another powerful season by Kathleen Renne Published in Fast Forward Weekly(FFWD) Newspaper September 4, 2008
  92. Hot-button dramaSmall theatres bring controversial Rachel Corrie play to Canada by Martin Morrow, CBCnews.ca by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation November 14, 2007
  93. My Name is Rachel Corrie bestows honour upon her memory Saturday, November 17, 2007
  94. 1 2 3 4
  95. Rachel's story Off-stage drama throws play into the international spotlight by Candice Vallantin Published in Fast Forward Weekly(FFWD) Newspaper November 15, 2007
  96. Hero or fool? Adrienne Smook delivers powerful performance in Sage's My Name is Rachel Corrie by Melanie Little Published in Fast Forward Weekly(FFWD) Newspaper November 22, 2007
  97. Little tricks pay off Shining a light on Betty nominees Ian Martens and Cimmeron Meyer by Kathleen Renne Published in Fast Forward Weekly(FFWD) Newspaper August 14, 2008
  98. The Wars, Edwin Drood earn 8 Betty theatre nominations CBCnews.ca by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Wednesday, July 23, 2008
  99. 1 2 Rachel Corrie's parents say play 'humanizes' activist daughter CBCnews.ca by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Monday, December 10, 2007
  100. Teesri Duniya Theatre Productions teesriduniyatheatre.com
  101. 1 2 3 Martin Bragg to leave top post at Canadian Stage Company CBCnews.ca by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Wednesday, June 18, 2008
  102. Talking with Rachel Corrie's Mom and Dad by Marcus Youssef The Tyee independent daily online magazine Published February 11, 2008
  103. Controversy in Canadian Theatre. No, Seriously The Next Stage Magazine About Independent New Theatre January 24, 2008
  104. My Name is Rachel Corrie has something to say, and says it well by David Berry at Vue Weekly Magazine Issue 650, April 3, 2008
  105. Giving voice and action to values My Name Is Rachel Corrie Theatre Yes by Liz Nicholls for The Edmonton Journal daily newspaper on March 25, 2008, republished at Canada.com of Canwest News Service
  106. Theatre Yes presents My Name is Rachel Corrie press release by Theatre Yes and Edmonton Small Press Association
  107. Inglis and Brovold wonder how much we can expect from ourselves by David Berry at Vue Weekly Magazine Issue 649 March 27, 2008
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  117. My Name Is Rachel Corrie (Playhouse) The British Theatre Guide Review by Louise Hill 2006
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  119. 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Opens This Weekend, 6 Aug by Terri Paddock at Whatsonstage.com 4 August 2006
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  130. Opposing sides of the Middle East conflict by Debra Cash jewish-theatre.com
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  133. Theatre of Neos Kosmos
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External links

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