tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post9118690059580713612..comments2023-09-20T14:34:21.102+02:00Comments on Postcards from the Gods: Behud (Beyond Belief) – Soho TheatreAndrew Haydonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05568061302451610140noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-3638053814197649282010-04-24T01:49:33.152+02:002010-04-24T01:49:33.152+02:00(cont)
Beyond that, neither Gund not its author Ta...(cont)<br />Beyond that, neither Gund not its author Tarlochan Kaur Grewal actually exist. But Birmingham and Sikhism do. So I don't think this question about how far the parallel universe stretches - or when the play is meant to be set - is so unreasonable.<br /><br />Re: "Sacrifice and martydom are hardly the monopoly of the ‘western’ (sic) Judeo-Christian tradition as you imply"<br /><br />If you re-read what I've actually said, I start by noting that the director has "subtly altered" the writer's stage direction "so that Tarlochan is laid *on* the table, which, laid with white cloth, is looking suspiciously like an altar, suggesting the writer sacrificed, martyred according to all the best Western Judeo-Christian traditions. Perhaps that’s meant to be ironic, but it looks misjudged (not to say imperialist) to say the least."<br /><br />None of that suggests that Sikhism isn't familiar with the concepts of sacrifice or martyrdom more generally (and one would have to have been living under a rock in a parallel universe for the past nine years to have missed Islamic "martyrdom"). <br /><br />What I'm talking about very specifically is the iconography of the altar and the sacrifice. Judaism had it. Indeed, the image of the sacrificed lamb is one that Christ traded heavily on. As such it finds itself symbolised in the altars of Christian churches to this day (hence "Judeo-Christian"). <br /><br />Sikhism does not have an analogy to this, to the best of my knowledge. It certainly doesn't symbolise such an image in the Darbar of a Gurdwara. In much the same way that Mosques don't have an Altar and the Jews haven't had an altar since the descruction of Beit HaMikdash in Yerushaláyim. <br /><br />Of course I see the iconography through my white, Western eyes, but what I'm pointing out here is that as such my eyes are of roughly the same provenance as the director's, I'm foregrounding the subjectivity of my reading of this image, but at the same time wondering out loud whether perhaps it's a misstep.<br /><br />As I say, I've never met Bhatti, so I can't say with any certainty, for example, whether she actually does habitually dress in an orange hoodie and light and dark grey striped pyjama trousers - looking for all the world like she wants to suggest Guantanamo from the waist up and Auschwitz from the waist down. <br /><br />But, yes, of course that's a contentious bit of "reading the stage". On the other hand, Lisa Goldman's been to Europe enough to know that theatre is a "readable" visual medium - that images are not value-free. That such connotations *are* both available and suggestive.<br /><br />I'm glad you liked the play, though. And thanks for reading and commenting.Andrew Haydonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07615226061116376519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-45847680306802265012010-04-24T01:48:16.551+02:002010-04-24T01:48:16.551+02:00I didn't like the play, you're right.
I&...I didn't like the play, you're right. <br />I've never met the writer, though, so I've got no idea how we'd get on. I've certainly nothing against her personally. <br /><br />"Do I detect middle class envy?"<br /><br />You might infer it, none is intended. Envy of what, incidentally?<br /><br />"A whiff of white British arrogance?"<br /><br />Is it "arrogant" for a someone not to like a play (irrespective of colour or nationality - neither of which seem relevant. Although thanks for not also bringing my gender or sexuality into this)? A week on, I admit that the tone of this review could perhaps have been a bit more measured, but then it's no more than a reflection of how I felt about the play the morning after I saw it.<br /><br />"You say the play "appears to be set in the present day." Only to you and the politically uniformed, though. The rest of us know that her May 6 election reference ... was to the local elections. Not in a “parallel universe” but here on planet the UK ... many local elections happen on May 6 (fixed in advance)."<br /><br />Mmm. But in 2005 - the next May after Behzti was staged - there weren't any Council Elections in Birmingham, which holds them on even-numbered years. There was a By-election on May the 5th. In May 2005, thoug, the 6th was a Friday... at least in this universe.Andrew Haydonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07615226061116376519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-2901486374868897982010-04-23T20:11:24.711+02:002010-04-23T20:11:24.711+02:00Hi, Andy
So you didn’t like play (or the writer?)...Hi, Andy<br /><br />So you didn’t like play (or the writer?). Do I detect middle class envy? A whiff of white British arrogance? Lazy thinking, certainly.<br /><br />Anyway, having seen, and liked Behud ... and then read the self-promotion you call a theatre blog, I thought I would add a couple of corrections.<br /><br />You say the play "appears to be set in the present day." Only to you and the politically uniformed, though. The rest of us know that her May 6 election reference ... was to the local elections. Not in a “parallel universe” but here on planet the UK ... many local elections happen on May 6 (fixed in advance).<br /><br />Clearly, you have the same level of knowledge when it comes to Sikhism. Sacrifice and martydom are hardly the monopoly of the ‘western’ (sic) Judeo-Christian tradition as you imply.<br /><br />So suggest otherwise, is, yes, misjudged (not to say imperialist) to say the least.<br /><br />JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-78923190395325228552010-04-21T01:12:03.043+02:002010-04-21T01:12:03.043+02:00brilliant ! brilliant brilliant!!brilliant ! brilliant brilliant!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-75336230153457851062010-04-20T21:21:23.077+02:002010-04-20T21:21:23.077+02:00Mr. Haydon,
this is the best, most honest review ...Mr. Haydon,<br /><br />this is the best, most honest review I have read on this play. I applaud you for your honesty and acute perception. <br />This ‘playwright’ and her plays, Bhezti and Behud are embarrassing examples of what is wrong with British theatre today. The reviewers, in their eagerness to support the ‘martyr of free speech’ could not even give this play more than 3 stars (with the exception of one or two provincial sycophants) even though they wanted to support this writer. <br />I am not aware that some have tried to compare Bhatti with Sarah Kane, if this is the case then this is also a disgrace. Sarah Kane’s work (in my opinion) was honest and came from within. And as you write, ‘was misunderstood’, particularly by Michael Billington. Bhatti’s work is sensationalist and opportunistic. <br />This woman has dined out on that disgraceful episode for 5 years (I mean the riot, not the play… although both were disgraceful for different reasons) and people need to stop being worthy and call a spade a spade.<br />Again, I applaud you for your stance and integrity. I wish the other theatre critics would call it as it is instead of fudging the issues. We would have a better theatre industry if this were the case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-50724047017466616182010-04-20T08:34:23.677+02:002010-04-20T08:34:23.677+02:00I am - should be up sometime today. Unexpectedly, ...I am - should be up sometime today. Unexpectedly, I rather loved it, though. Proper explanation in review...Andrew Haydonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07615226061116376519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-70184439499994573762010-04-20T03:13:46.732+02:002010-04-20T03:13:46.732+02:00You reviewing Posh? Very interested to hear your t...You reviewing Posh? Very interested to hear your thoughts on that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com