Hotel Bans 'Hate' Play

By Erica Morris - Thursday 12th March 2009


An Irish hotelier stood up to pressure this week from pro-Palestinian campaigners, cancelling a performance of the controversial play Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza, saying she didn't want to be associated with the piece and would not give in to "bullying".

Maureen Mortimer, owner of the Lord Kingsale in Cork, cancelled the event on Monday after receiving a barrage of angry emails from patrons who were outraged that the inn was playing host to the 10-minute piece, which was written last month by London playwright Caryl Churchill. Penned as a protest against Israel's military action in Gaza, the play has been branded anti-Semitic.

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The hotelier told the Jewish News: "I didn't want to be associated with something that is causing such obvious anguish for so many people. I was not familiar with the play before the performance was booked, and would not have accepted the booking if I had."
The play was to be presented last night by Red Sandstone Varied Productions to coincide with Viva Palestina, a charity party that would have included live music, raffle prizes and speakers.
Mortimer cancelled both the play and party, saying organisers did not inform her of the true nature of the event when booking the venue.
She commented: "They just told me they were trying to buy medical supplies. I had no idea what it was really about. When I realised how upset people were I immediately cancelled it."
Since announcing her decision, Mortimer said she has received even more angry emails and phone calls from individuals demanding she rescind the cancellation, but she told the Jewish News she would not give in to "bullying".
The play has been criticised as being anti-Semitic by theatre critics and Jewish community leaders, with lines that have a Jewish character state "I don't care if the world hates us, tell her we're better haters, tell her we're the chosen people".
The performance was organised as part of a grassroots initiative to raise money for Medical Aid for Palestinians, a British charity that operates in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Lebanon. The fundraising project is in association with Project Brand New, an Irish performing arts company, and individuals across Ireland are using the internet and social networking groups like Facebook to generate interest.
Yvonne Coughlin, director of the performance that was scheduled to take place at the Lord Kingsale, was still able to present her version of the play at four other Cork venues last night. She told the Jewish News: "This is a play referencing Jewish
families in extreme circumstances; this does not make it racist.
"We at RSVP are concerned at the implication that our production of this play may be
construed as anti-Semitic. This is not our intention, nor do we believe that our interpretation of Caryl Churchill's play does this in any way."
The programme sees Churchill's piece performed in at least nine different venues in Ireland throughout March - including Mirari Productions in Dublin - with theatre groups continually joining in to participate. Performance rights for the script are free to the public, with Churchill stipulating that no admission fee be charged so long as organisers use the play as a way to raise money for MAP.
Jonathan Hoffman, co-vice chairman of the Zionist Federation, applauded the Lord Kingsale and urged parents and governors to protest against future performances of Seven Jewish Children that he said are currently being organised by various schools and teachers.
He told the Jewish News: "Mrs Mortimer at the Kingsale Hotel is to be congratulated on her principled decision. I look forward to staying at the hotel to thank her in person."

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