Tackling the love-culture clash
THE theme of Jewish boy meets non-Jewish girl. They fall in love. Soon they dream about getting married and starting a family, much to his family's disappointment. It's a common scenario being played out these days in Jewish households across the world.
CHANTAL ABITBOL
THE theme of Jewish boy meets non-Jewish girl. They fall in love. Soon they dream about getting married and starting a family, much to his family’s disappointment. It’s a common scenario being played out these days in Jewish households across the world.
Now it’s also hitting the stage in playwright/actor Wayne Tunks’ new play Someday Suddenly, currently being performed at Sidetrack Theatre in Sydney.
“There was one time when Jewish people would only marry other Jews, and Asian people would only marry other Asians. But that doesn’t happen anymore,” says Tunks, who has also written and produced other successful shows, including The Subtle Art of Flirting and We’ll Always Have Wagga.
“I don’t think in theatre or television that we really show how much of a multicultural country we are. We’re really such a melting pot of cultures, and we ignore that in our art. I thought [interracial dating] is very much what Australia is nowadays, and that’s why it was important for me to write this play.”
Tunks, who is not Jewish, will also appear in the play as the lead Jewish character, Michael.
Channelling and writing the character was challenging, he admits, but thankfully he had his long-time Jewish publicist, Geoff Sirmai, on hand to grill for bits of information about Jewish culture.
“The fun thing about being an actor is that you get to play people that aren’t you. If I were playing me in a play, I’d be utterly bored,” he says.
Ultimately, he says, he hopes audiences will walk away from the play with a positive feeling about the country’s multicultural state of affairs.
“We’re not trying to shove issues down people’s throat. But at the same time, we ask questions and hopefully we provide a positive response to multiculturalism.”
The overarching message: “It doesn’t matter who you are. If you’re a good person, that’s all that matters,” he says. “At the end of the day, love is the important thing, and if you love somebody, you will find a way.”
Someday Suddenly is currently showing at the Sidetrack Theatre, Sydney, until July 18. Bookings: (02) 9550 3666; www.sidetrack.com.au.
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