Love is probably going to break your heart at least once in this lifetime, and it’s going to hurt. But for the talented crew of Brokens, love, heartache, and the intricacies of the contemporary Tel Aviv dating scene are the raw material of a vivacious, fast-paced, funny, poignant, and wonderfully entertaining show. A production of the Enav Cultural Center, Brokens was written by Noa Gendelman based on stories culled from social media, as well as experiences shared by the actors/co-creators. Directed by Ido Kolton, the show is composed of a series of vignettes that follow the tortuous paths of love and disappointment of five central characters, portrayed by Carmel Netzer, Uri Perelman, Dar Rosenbaum, Yaeli Rozenblit, and Kolton.
Raw, honest, and intimate, the stories strike a chord of recognition. The awkwardness of first dates, the distance between desire and reality, the unattainable perfection as depicted in social media, the labyrinth of dating apps, body shame and body positivity, the fear of being alone, the desire to see what’s out there – they talk about it all. You may find yourself thinking – I’ve felt that way, and even if none of this has ever happened to you – you’ve never been dumped, or felt lonely, horny, FOMO, conflicted or excited – you know someone who’s been there. Music is as central to Brokens as it is to life, and there is a live band onstage: Gal Tamir, Tom Pfeifel, and Ilay Shmertz, who arranged the songs. Popular songs are woven into the different narratives, with lyrics translated to Hebrew by Eden Yair Azar. From Queen’s Somebody to Love, to Frankie Valli’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, to Meredith Brook’s I’m a Bitch, and more – the songs reach beyond narrative, to touch hidden places of feeling and memories.
The show’s title, Brokens, is intentionally incorrect. It’s broken, as are perhaps, the characters. Each character has their own narrative arc that develops over the course of the show, with the focus shifting from one character to another. The cast are all terrific, delivering vibrant and moving performances. Ido Kolton’s character goes through a range of experiences, from the blush of first love to the somewhat more complicated emotions of first Grindr date. Carmel Netzer’s character talks about image issues, insecurities, and the difficulties of relationships and sexuality with brash, fast-talking confidence. Yaeli Rozenblit’s character is sweetly awkward, eager and ever-hopeful, always rushing in, to self-sabotage every step of the way. Dar Rosenbaum’s character is that woman who always has a boyfriend and has never in her life not been in a relationship. Uri Perelman’s character is a typical Tel Aviv douche – or is he? In addition to his character’s arc, Perelman takes on multiple roles throughout the show, playing the incidental men who are the love/sex interest the different scenes.
Brokens is a vivid documentation of the Tel Aviv dating scene, reflecting primarily the experiences of young people in their late 20s, early 30s. Dance sequences and a background projection of video scenes (created by Vitali Friedland) contribute to the explosive energy of the show, creating a sensory abundance that feels so very Tel Aviv to me.
Brokens
Written by Noa Gendelman; Director: Ido Kolton; Assistant Director: Daniel Bagno; Musical Direction and Arrangements: Ilay Shmertz; Costumes: Nitzan Chen; Lighting: Eyal Daniel; Video Art: Vitali Friedland; Lyrics Translation: Eden Yair Azar; Actors and Co-Creators: Carmel Netzer, Uri Perelman, Dar Rosenbaum, Yaeli Rozenblit, Ido Kolton; Musicians: Gal Tamir, Tom Pfeifel, Ilay Shmertz
