On the evening of April 15, CIP’s headquarters became a space of art, tradition, and reflection as it hosted the Theatrical Literary Café of Dibuk, the Musical. Bringing together cast and audience, the event was marked by intense exchanges and reflections on art, tradition, and contemporary culture. Organized by CIP in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, the initiative unveiled the backstage process of the new production and offered a deep dive into the central themes of the play.

Moderated by Rabbi Natan Freller, the discussion featured Alberto (Gingi) Worcman, Paula Targownik, Marcelo Klabin, Gustavo Kurlat, and actress Veve Goeldi, with special participation from actors Heitor Goldflus and Lilian Blank, as well as circus coordinator Natalia Pressler.

The conversation highlighted An-Ski’s work and the transformations proposed in this new adaptation. Discussions also focused on the role of women in the storyline and the challenges of reinterpreting a classic through the lens of today’s world.

Alberto Worcman (Gingi) emphasized the interpretive and symbolic dimension of the play, pointing out the multiple meanings embedded in the text: “This paradox is present all the time. What is written can be understood in different ways, and that’s precisely where the play comes alive. Each interpretation depends on the context and the protagonists, but there are always limits.” His remarks reinforced the open and provocative nature of Dibuk, which invites audiences to reflect on love, destiny, and spirituality.

Lead actress Veve Goeldi shared her personal experience of immersing herself in a culture different from her own: “I enter this project with great respect and curiosity. It was a gift to get closer to such a rich culture as Judaism, with such a unique musicality. As an actress, it’s a profound exercise in empathy—putting myself in someone else’s place and learning from it.”

One of the evening’s most memorable moments came when Veve, accompanied on piano by Vicente Falek, moved the audience with a performance of a scene from the musical, offering a powerful “spoiler” of what is to come.

The event also explored love—the central theme of the play, as well as the balance between tradition and innovation in building the production.

Closing the evening, Rabbi Natan Freller delivered a message connecting art and spirituality, reflecting on the Jewish tradition’s concept of peace: “Heavenly peace and worldly peace are connected. We must work together, with hands from above and hands from below, to build bridges and share the richness of Jewish culture as a culture of dialogue and peace.” He also stressed the importance of combating intolerance—a collective, continuous, and essential effort to prevent the mistakes of the past from repeating.

During the Literary Café, two pairs of tickets to Dibuk, the Musical were raffled among attendees. The pre-premiere will take place on April 23 at 8 p.m. at Teatro Sérgio Cardoso, with VIP ticket sales benefiting CIP’s social projects (sales via WhatsApp: +55 (11) 9.1324-0641, with Ieda).

The Theatrical Literary Café was presented by the Ministry of Culture and Congregação Israelita Paulista (CIP), sponsored by Itaú, Bemol, Rosset, Banco Safra, Tricostyl, Smartstorage, and Aurora, with support from the Federal Law for Cultural Incentives.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)