Stempeny to be staged in the city

Gifted musician Stempenyu, who performs at weddings, is also a renowned heartbreaker.

Gifted musician Stempenyu, who performs at weddings, is also a renowned heartbreaker. But he falls in love with Rochele. And, though she is married, she, too, falls in love with him. That’s the plot of a play, also titled, Stempenyu, which will be staged in the city for the first time, today.

The Embassy of Israel in India a nd one of the leading theatres in Israel, The Cameri Theatre, together, are staging the play as part of the 6th Delhi International Arts Festival. “We do performances across Israel. I was in India a few months ago and met with festival directors. It was then that this play got selected. We immediately began working on it,” says Noam Semel of Cameri Theatre.

Directed by Edna Mazya and Yehezkel Lazarov from Israel, the one-and-a-half hour long play is based on an 1888 novel of the same name, by author Sholem Aleichem. “Edna wrote the play and I loved it. I play the role of Stempenyu myself. He’s a violin player who once lost his love. He never thought that he would ever again find the kind of love that he feels for his craft. But when it happens, it changes everything,” says Lazarov, who has also choreographed the play.
“It’s a very Jewish, old story that has been told in a dance theatre format. It’s a new concept. We will be showing emotions through movements, and dance will be used not as mere numbers but to take forward the story,” he adds.

Catch it live
What: Staging of an Israeli play, Stempenyu
When: November 4
Timing: 7pm
Entry: Free (seating on first come first serve basis)
Where: Siri Fort Auditorium, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi
Nearest Metro Station : Green Park on the Yellow Line