A closer look: set design for Pangs of the Messiah
by Kurt Sharp, set designer
I burst into tears at the first read through of ‘Pangs of the Messiah’ the other night. I think the reason was that hearing the actors honestly and simply put forth the arguments of the play made me very angry, the way that a great tragedy can. I remember seeing a production of Romeo and Juliet once and feeling a sense of dread at what I could tell was going to happen and sadness at the waste of it all. But instead of merely ending a feud between families in Renaissance Italy, the events of ‘Pangs’ could happen in Israel tomorrow and directly affect us here in Chicago, with results that are terrifying.
At the reading I presented the model of the setting. There is much that is specific to this play about the West Bank settlements, so visual research provided a language of textures and materials that would reinforce our sense of place. Silk Road’s performance space is intimate and its rafters suggest the exposed construction of a great room ceiling. This particular living room is not only a rabbi’s home, but also a command center for a political and religious movement. Its’ jumble of worn furniture reflects this family’s changing goals and sacrifices. It seems a little chaotic at this time of crisis. Set in the near future, the show utilizes projections and voiceovers during scene transitions to emphasize the constant exposure to violent struggle, and the escalation of political and religious tensions.
It was wonderful to meet the playwright and hear him speak about the play. Motti Lerner has a character in ‘Pangs’ express concern that the school children in the settlement may be being traumatized by their use as a roadblock to stop soldiers– that saving the settlement by such means might sacrifice the sanity of the people who will inherit it. It hit me during the read-through that idea drives the whole play. Each of the family members we meet is already damaged in some way. And what about the grandchildren we never meet? If they have lost their humanity, what will it matter if the Messiah comes?
The set model