Ester is a young mother dealing with the loss of her one and only child. Despite her pain and agony, Ester is determined to live, to be happy, to dream. Through humor, she reveals her secrets and desires, anger and longing.
In these days of bloody war, fought between Israeli and Palestinian boys, we, as artists who live in such turbulent times, chose to present this universal drama of loss and bereavement.
Ester is a penetrating drama that combines dance and acting, on the dreariness of life after the loss of a loved one.
In this unique performance, an attempt is made to touch the adjoining point between the depth of grief, and the glory of bliss. Two worlds so far apart that they touch each other.The dance deepens and enhances Ester’s inner world to connect the spectator with the inexpressible.Credits: (1 hour)Writing and Acting: Lee SherChoreography and dance: Saar HarariMusic: CollageCostumes: Svetlana BergerStage design: Saar Harari
Light design: Ori Morad
The 2002 production of the company, “Ester”, was created in Sydney, Australia with the support of The Art Gallery Of Mosman, Sydney.In NYC, it was presented at Columbia University.Reviews:“The talented Lee Sher reveals the character of ESTER with vitality, sensitivity, delicate humor and with a rare human quality that enables her to melt something inside us that has long been frozen”.“The sensitive swing between the two emotional poles are enriched by the silent presence of the dancer Saar Harari whose movement cries out and wrappes Sher’s performance in a unique plastic dimension.”“A combination of two extraordinary talents, each in his own filed, who present a show that is rare in its sensitivity and quality. Uncompromising excellence, absolutely thrilling.”- Time Out.
“The best theater and dance you can find these days, full of crying and laughing. go and see it now.” - 7 night’s / Yediot
More from the press:
Crying Game “ESTER” is about the thin line between agony and happiness, in the life of a mother who lost her son. Strongly recommended
By Merav Yudilevich Y-net/stage
“ESTER”
by the actress Lee Sher and her partner, the dancer, Saar Harari is a combination of two extraordinary talents, each in his filed, who present a magnificent night full with emotions. Ester is a young mother who has lost her only child. Despite the grief, she does not lose her sense of humor - a small element of sanity saving her from madness. The piece touches the connecting point between hope and despair, happiness and sorrow. The audience, with humor, accompanies the mother in her preparations towards her child’s memorial day: “ I looking for a child that does not exist any more”, says ESTER, “ my child exists only in my desire to remember him, to love him. I am a mother and what do I get out of it– a big whole in my stomach and in my heart…I am a mother to a child who does not exist any more, thousand diamond on a crown won’t make me happy, a thousand pretty dresses won’t make me beautiful…”
Between one acting scene to another Saar Harari dances, symbolizing the alter ego, the instincts, the passions, the fantasies and the madness of the mother. Harari, 28 years old, danced for two years with Liat Dror and Nir Ben Gal, and later joined Noa dar Dance Group.
Ester was created and produced by the couple Harari & Sher in Australia with the support of The Art Gallery Of Mosman, Sydney. This show is all subtext; its strength is in the unspoken words, the simplicity of the minimal text and the combination of the artists who demonstrate outstanding excellence.
The new trend, in which almost every dance piece is unnaturally integrated with text, is mostly unbearable, but in this show is a unique combination granting the piece with added values.
The show is produced in Enav Cultural Center in Tel Aviv – an excellent choice, where intimacy is being created between the couple Sher Harari and the audience. The excellent lighting work is a perfect decoration - dressing and undressing the space. Thrilling.