Hippopotam – the True Story

Midnight East knows you’ve heard the rumors. Sad to say, but it’s true: Hippopotam, that wildly funny Israeli comedy troupe, broke up and held their final performance on Purim. But just when you thought it was safe to go back to the cinematheque at midnight – this fab foursome (Alon Gur Arye, Nimrod Izhar, Eyal Shindler & Aviad Roter) is back together for the Hippopotam Reunion Show this Friday, March 25, 2011 at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque at midnight, and then will take their act to Jerusalem for the first time ever, on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 21:00 at the Jerusalem Cinematheque.

Hippopotam are an Israeli comedy troupe that have performed on the radio, internet and in film, and have taken their show to the stage with a series of skits that are a prelude to the screening of their cult film Israeli Intelligence – a sensationally silly parody now in its 4th year of screenings at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque.

Hippopotam – the Show is a stage and screen performance that takes advantage of a captive audience to embark on a nonsense marathon of skits that may prove hazardous to your mental health, causing inexplicable fits of laughter. They started out on the mythological show Radio Tel Aviv, five years and an internet petition later, the group was reunited for three seasons of video skits.

Zionist Heroes is one of Hippopotam’s most popular skits:

In 2007 they released the film Israeli Intelligence, directed by Alon Gur Arye and starring Ilan Dar, Lana Ettinger, Eli Gorenstein and Ron Shahar. The first Israeli film in the Naked Gun genre, it has acquired a cult following, with fans returning time and time again. The stage performance began as an introduction to the film, and has evolved into a real show, performed at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque on Thursdays at 22:00, and Fridays at midnight.

Serious fans – Hipofanatics – come wearing homemade T shirts, bearing flags and other objects from the skits. Each show begins with the ceremonial countdown – who is here for the first time? Second? Too many to admit in public? And at some point in the middle, audience members come up on stage to dance – If You Don’t Dance You’re A Goof.

 Israeli Intelligence, directed by Alon Gur Arye (who is also the director of the Hippopotam show) has won several international awards Best Comedy at the Dixie Festival in Atlanta, Best Director and an award for special effects at the Comedy Festival in Houston, Audience Favorite in Toronto, Best Action Film at the Action On Film Festival in Los Angeles, and an honorable mention at Mockfest Hollywood.

Tickets are 40 NIS Thursdays, 30 NIS Fridays, 20 NIS for Hippopotam members.