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| Norwegian mediator Terje Rød-Larsen (Mark Anderson Phillips, left) discusses the possibility of back channel peace negotiations with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin (Aaron Davidman). Photo by Kevin Berne |
Hopes for Middle East peace brightened considerably
in 1993 when the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization were signed.
“Oslo,” the 2017 Tony-winning drama by J.T. Rogers,
tells how this historic agreement came about. It’s being given its West Coast
premiere by Marin Theatre Company.
It focuses on the top-secret negotiations brokered
by Terje Rød-Larsen (Mark Anderson
Phillips), founder of a research organization that studies international
politics; and his wife, Mona Juul (Erica Sullivan), a Norwegian diplomat.
They brought together
two representatives each from Israel and the PLO in a Norwegian country mansion
and sent them into a private room to talk.
Although the two
sides were openly hostile at first, they gradually established some rapport and
began agreeing on points of contention.
As these talks
continued in fits and starts over several months, others from each side became
involved.
MTC artistic director
Jasson Minadakis skillfully guides his superb 14-member cast through the play’s
changing moods, character clashes and character development.
Among the actors, Phillips
and Sullivan are especially noteworthy as the persistent brokers. Most of the
other actors play only one character, while Marcia Pizzo, Charles Shaw Robinson
and Ryan Tasker display their versatility in several roles.
The cast also
includes Ashkon Davaran, Aaron Davidman, Joe Estlack, Corey Fischer, Brian
Herndon, Peter James Meyers, J. Paul Nicholas, Adam Niemann and Paris Hunter
Paul.
The spare, flexible
set is by Sean Fanning with dramatic lighting by York Kennedy and projections
by Mike Post.
The costumes are by
Fumiko Bielefeldt with sound by Sara Huddleston and music by Chris Houston.
Although the Oslo
Accords raised hopes for an end to hostilities, the play’s epilogue makes clear
that peace quickly became elusive and still is today, 25 years later.
Running about two
hours and 40 minutes with an intermission, “Oslo” is a powerful, riveting
drama. It will continue through Oct. 21 at Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller
Ave., Mill Valley.
