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  Jasser Mansoer, a Palestinian actor living in the Netherlands, is in his dressing room, preparing to go on stage to play Shylock, the Jew in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.
He is frustrated with always being cast to play Jewish characters. Even more frustrating is the fact that he never got the chance to play his namesake Yasser Arafat. He did play Arafat once, but that was a long time ago, when he was a little boy playing on the street with his friends. In those days he would also play Rabin.
His continuous rant about the Jewish-Palestinian conflict has put an end to his relationship with his Dutch girlfriend Marjolein. She is playing Portia in the very same performance tonight.
Jasser has already lost a lot in the course of his life: his father – a builder who fell off scaffolding in Israel, his home country - which he left behind, and his family.
He philosophizes, contemplates, ruminates, and then he freaks out. Finally, Jasser has to go on stage…

 

  
 
 

Abdelkader Benali wrote the monologue Jasser in 2001. It was originally performed by Sabri Saad el Hamus. The central theme - the Palestinian-Israeli conflict - is presented on a personal level rather than a political one. The spectator gets to see it through the eyes of an individual - Jasser Mansoer.
His ambition to act has brought him into the safe fictional world of theatre. But in this world he is also required to confront his enemy. He dares to get to know him.

Because of the issues it addresses, but also because of the strongly rhythmical and musical texts of Benali, cellist Ilonka van den Bercken and composer Guy Harries came up with the idea to create an opera based on this text.
Actor Sabri Saad el Hamus speaks freely through the music. He also raps and sings.
Other roles are sung by the soprano Jannie Pranger. The Israeli composer Guy Harries found inspiration in all forms of western and Arabic music - classical as well as contemporary Arabic pop music.
The performance is accompanied by video images, consisting of both prepared and live-camera material.
JASSER is produced by Bodylab, an art foundation that focuses on interdisciplinary projects with socially relevant themes. Central to its productions is the interaction between sound and image and the combination of electronic and acoustic sound.

Composer Guy Harries:
“The instrumentation is a combination of different styles. Arabic instruments like the ud and bandir play an important role, but clarinet, cello, percussion and electronics are also part of the diverse ensemble.
The musical language goes in many different directions, east and west, various periods. But it is not a collage. I create a consistent style and follow the narrative of the play. All means are legitimate in telling the story. My question is: how can I represent Jasser Mansoer and his conflict in the music?
This composition is the answer.”

  


 With thanks to: Bert Schierbeek Fonds