Review: Haim – In The Light of a Violin, Coronet Theatre ***
Fiona Leckerman reviews Gerald Garutti's production retelling the life of Holocaust survivor Haim Lipsky
Fiona Green is a features writer
“All this joy comes from me” says the voice of Holocaust survivor and musician Haim Lipsky, as the lights fade and the play about his life story begins.
Five players enter the stage of the Coronet Theatre in Notting Hill, the underground shabby-chic space providing the perfect setting for Haim – In the Light of A Violin, a dark, claustrophobic narrative about how playing the violin saved Lipsky’s life.
As the extraordinarily talented violinist representing Haim, Yair Benaim, steps into a pool of light and meaningfully stares at the violin and bow held in his hands, it becomes this is going to be a very moving and symbolic retelling of Haim’s story.
Written and directed by Gerald Garutti after meeting Haim’s daughter and translated by playwright Christopher Hampton, Haim – In the Light of A Violin had the promise of greatness. With all plays that seek to reaffirm the events of the Holocaust and its survivors, it is difficult sometimes to be too critical, because it is above all vital these plays and stories are retold. This play, in French with English surtitles, has not decided whether it is just that, a play.
The cast are musicians, whose ability to translate feeling through music is unparalleled, but there is no drama, no set, barely a lighting cue and the only script is recited quite beautiful by the lovely Melanie Doutey, who does her best to breathe life into the words she has been given.
Garutti expressed how Haim Lipsky was reluctant to discuss with him what occurred while he was imprisoned in Auschwitz and it is this lack of detail that is dearly missed. The audience and beyond do need to know those details, however harrowing they must be, because the more we know the more it determines our resolve to never forget.
Haim’s story is largely based on his love of music, playing the violin and how his talent gave him the advantage and luck to survive the atrocities, all of which are represented faithfully, but it lacks a certain heart.
When compared to The Pianist of Willesden Green, a similar, musically-themed Holocaust play, it fails to connect in the same way. However, what it does achieve is the knowledge that beauty and art can still remain even in our darkest moments.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
