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Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Rachel Corrie—Chased from New York to Seattle

Posted by on March 29 at 10:24 AM

Seattle Rep just announced next year’s season, featuring The Great Gatsby, plays by Albee and August Wilson, and My Name is Rachel Corrie by the resonantly-voiced Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner, based on the writings of the young Washington protestor who was bulldozed to death in Palestine. The play was supposed to open in New York, but controversy shuttered the production: “The New York theater told its British partners the production was postponed after discussions with people in the arts, ‘religious leaders’ and ‘representatives of the Jewish community.’”

So Corrie is coming to Seattle. Now who’s the grown-up theater town?


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Didn't someone post about this before and someone suggested it should come here? Awesome! Way to go, Seattle!

A few years ago an art gallery here in Seattle cancelled an exhibit which paid hommage to the Buddha's in Afghanistan that were destroyed by the Taliban. The reason for the cancellation? Fear of offending Muslims and inspiriing death threats. Perhaps the art community could push for this show to finally be installed?

So this is that "activist" who died to save some dentists house? And wasn't the group she participated in a terrorist organization?
Judging from the Stranger article about her, she doesn't sound all the smart.


The play was likely cancelled in New York simply for being bad. At least the Jewish theatre community knows a boring play when they see one.

Related to this subject....

Can anyone confirm if this was a lampoon or did this event acrtually happen?

http://victoria.indymedia.org/news/2006/03/49603.php

I can't help but think that if this was an actual fundraiser, this could add a whole new element to the marketing of the Rachel Corrie play.... Theater and pancakes anyone?

The Stranger has a funny cartoon of "St. Rachel" you should check out too.


There's a lot of opportunity for humor in mocking this local liberal activist.

One of the jokes going around was "they had to cancel the New York performace because they couldn't find and actress flat enough to play her!"


Maybe the local Jewish community and The Stranger could host a "Rachel Corrie Humor Night" and have commedians telling pancake jokes. My guess is that kind of theatre would be better than the London play.

Rachel Corrie


Whenever Rachel Corrie went down town,

The people on the pavement looked at her:

She was an idiot from sole to crown,

Jew-Hating scumbag to be sure.


And she has always violently protested,

And she was always burning flags as she talked;

But still she fluttered pulses when she said,

"Kill Jews" and she glittered when she walked.


And she was rich - yes, richer than a king -

A spoiled white trash girl in all her grace.

In fine we thought that she was everything

To make us thank we weren't in her place.


So on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;

And Rachel Corrie, one calm summer night,

Went home and put a DOZER through her head.


For those who didn't realise, this is a parody
over Edwin Arlington Robinson's "Richard Cory" from the internet.

Capital Hippies dead = humor opportunity


Tacoma Mall Shooting = Humor Opportunity


Rachel Corrie dead = Humor Opportunity


That's why The Stranger is Seattle's only newspaper. We love you Stranger!

My applauding of Seattle's willingness to show the damn play is not an aesthetic endorsement—just a political one. From the same article linked to in the original post:

"When it opened in London in April 2005... The Times newspaper said some scenes offered a one-sided portrayal of the Middle East conflict it called 'unvarnished propaganda.'"

I would be surprised if the play *isn't* a half-baked hagiography. Still, NYC was scared to produce it. Seattle ain't.

The Stranger has been strongly pro Israel, so I'm hoping they will have the guts to promote a Rachel Corrie pancake breakfast.

If the local Jewish theatre community would step up and take a stand too, audiences could be treated to a hilarious comedy night.

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