‘David, the Servant King’:  An Ode to our Poet Warrior Generation

Some years ago, I attended a performance of “King David” by Gesher Theater, with a group of new Russian-speaking Olim.  My initial excitement to see this play turned sour after the first few scenes,  and at intermission I found myself explaining to my group that based on the Biblical storyline,  David was not the lightheaded, redheaded, bloodthirsty, perverted, prancing idiot that the playwright felt the need to portray him as, because of some cynical, puzzling post-Jewish agenda.

I will spare the details of the latter play here, but suffice it to say that David’s momentous achievemnts – his Psalms, his preparations for the building of the Temple, the countless wars he fought to free Israel, and his legacy of faith and repentance over his wrongdoings – all preceded and will outlive this Gesher playwright’s distorted rendering by  thousands of years, specifically because of David’s humanness.

I bring this preface just to share that beginning January 25th in Jerusalem, I will join 26 talented women performers in a remarkable, professional, original women’s musical production that is a profound tikkun for the latter experience.

David the Servant King, by New Note Productions,  is the little-known story of David’s life, from birth to Divine anointment, as the second King of Israel.  The idea for this epic musical  began as a compilation of magnificent music, written and arranged over several years by Shlomit Kopffler Weinreb. who also plays the role of Samuel the Prophet.  Upon Shlomit’s Aliyah,  she began collaborating with actress, singer and playwright Avital Macales who completed the script, which is as brilliant as Avital’s poignant, convincing rendering of David.

Composer and choral director Esther Macales created the vocal arrangements, including 5-to-6-part harmonies for the ensemble pieces, Amit Ben Atar and Shlomit Weinreb, completed the soundtrack, Choreographer Gabriella Friedman brought the scenes alive with inspired dance and movement, and Director Ayelet Sanay weaved the whole package together to create a moving, relevant and inspiring theater experience.

It is sad to know that our thrice-weekly rehearsals are almost at an end, where we sit riveted watching the scenes, laughing and crying, and being happy for our future audiences!  I will miss the pure joy of symphonic musical creation, the moments of too familiar angst (“How the Mighty Have Fallen”) and the eclectic humor of our wonderful actresses and team.

Beyond the stunning, Broadway-worthy score and acting, David the Servant King is magical because of the nuanced evolution of its characters.   The initial painful treatment of David by his father and brothers – who regard him as a mamzer – and by the Bethlehem townspeople,  until his greatness is revealed, the process of bonding between David and Jonathan – the future king’s only soul-friend,  David’s amusing apprenticeship of shepherd- wanna-be Caleb, endearingly played by Esther Attia, and of course,  David’s tormented relationship with King Saul, powerfully portrayed by Rivka Deray, until the latter’s resolution and Saul’s repentance hours before he and his sons are tragically killed in battle.

And then there is David himself, whose loneliness and suffering leads him to music, to God, and to greatness.

He is gently guided by his mother, Nitzevet, played movingly by Tamar Rabinowitz, who, true to her name, is stable and constant in her belief that “God does not weave without purpose.”

This production reminds us that we too have evolved. Like our nation in Egypt, “the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and burst their limitations.”

After two and a half years of battling our enemies from without and the divisiveness that tears us from within,  most of us have changed.

Underlying the poignant power of David the Servant King is the fierce hope and belief that we are living in redemptive “David” times – that Israel stands at the cusp of the eradication of evil and the triumph of good and awareness of God in our world,  that the courageous spirit and sacrifice of the poet warriors of our generation are bearing fruit and will bring comfort soon, God- willing, in our time.

Or in David’s words, before taking on Goliath –  “Then all the Earth will know, that there is a God in Israel, there is a God in Israel!” – the resounding theme of this uplifting and timely production.

So “Rise, Rise” my dear women friends and do not walk, but run to buy tickets to David for you and your loved ones!  They are going quickly.

The production is in English, with both Hebrew and English surtitles.

Only six performances in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh,  January 25th through February 8th.

And one Livestream performance on February 1st, for our beloved members of the tribe of Judah overseas!

For tickets: https://davidservantking.com/