01 February 2008 -- All the World's a Stage

January was nothing if not busy -- it was my first full month of teaching here, my parents visited Israel for ten days, and I made my theatrical debut! Yes, because going to México for my first Hebrew lessons wasn't quite ironic enough for me, I thought moving to Israel would be the perfect opportunity to act in my first play. I found out about Haifa English Theatre early in my time here, and I figured that auditioning would be a fine way to meet other "Anglo" immigrants and to do something fun outside of work. I was right, more or less.

Summer End is a comic murder-mystery by Eric Chappell, a British sit-com writer. There is only one male role, and I got it. Woo hoo! I played the beleaguered son of a cantankerous, suspicious resident of the home. I spent most of my time pleading with my mother to stop accusing people of murder, but (of course) she turns out to have been right all along...kind of. Chappell is no Shakespeare, and the production was not top-dollar, but we drew pretty big crowds -- including the U.S. ambassador! -- and we put on an enjoyable show. Along the way, I did meet many English speakers (though most of them had immigrated before I was born), and I did get some welcome diversion from school. Now, when my students ask, as they often do, "Have you ever been an actor?" I can say, "Why yes, my prying little protégé, yes I have!"

In a rare Neal family instance of perfect timing, my parents found an amazing package deal for a tour of Israel that coincided with the play's performance run. My mom hadn't been here since 1968, and my dad had never been, so it was an amazing trip for both of them. I couldn't join them for most of their travels since school was in session, but I met them in Tel Aviv when they arrived, and we spent three days together in Haifa when the tour was over. Despite an unprecedented cold spell and more walking than my mom would care to do in a year, they had a delightful time. I sincerely enjoyed taking them around my new hometown; it made me feel remarkably...local.

Here I am with my stage mother. I had to wince, cringe, sigh, and roll my eyes through the whole play, saying things like "What's the matter now?" in a rather understated British accent.

This is an example of the magic of theatre: My character is supposed to be older than that of the other actor in this photograph. Did the white greasepaint at my temples fool you? In reality, she's 45 years my senior. And there's something else she's hiding...

Some of the cast and crew are posing with the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Richard H. Jones (far right -- no pun intended), and his wife, Jean (second from left).

Here are my parents, both proudly donning their Houston Community College t-shirts, at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv. You may be interested to know that they're very active members of HCC's International Students Club. Really.

And here they are next to a rather incomprehensible adornment in Haifa's beautiful Bahá'í Gardens. Yes, it was as cold as it looks.

Here's Mom in front of Jaffa's famed clocktower. I enjoy this picture because it was a candid shot but looks like something you'd find in a travel magazine.

Now we're in Ein Hod, a surrealist artists' colony south of Haifa founded by Dada pioneer Marcel Janco. Mom was struck by the surreal number of uneven stone steps, so we didn't stay very long.

Ooh, check it out: metaphotography! This is Dad capturing Mom in a sympathetic pose with a bronze young woman whose feet also seem to be ailing her. We're in Haifa's sculpture garden.

Perhaps reluctant at first about the idea of visiting a shuq (street market) in Haifa's Arab neighborhood, Dad did not hesitate to do as the locals do when he came upon the candy section. Gummi bears transcend cultural boundaries.

Aren't we just adorable? I'm delighted that the trip went so well and that my parents had the opportunity to get a first-hand glimpse of my Middle Eastern adventure. One wonders where the globetrotting Neals will meet next...