As the presenter and director of the readings of the play "My Name is Rachel Corrie," I felt compelled to respond to a number of points raised in the dialogue the past two weeks.
First, I was the sole presenter of the event. The nexStage theatre rented the venue to me as a course of daily business. They bear no responsibility for the content of the play. The gentleman that confronted the theater's director Kathy Wygle in the lobby after the show and threatened the destruction of the theater within a year has gravely misplaced his anger.
Secondly, although the Mountain Express reporter did not attend the performance in question, the first of two, I thought his article was accurate except for one point. The majority of the audience was not pro-Israeli. Instead they comprised roughly one-fifth of the audience. It was just unfortunate that all the questions that I randomly took were from this group. It was also unfortunate that this group chose not to ask questions but instead deliver vitriolic speeches and read prepared statements, despite my request that only short direct questions of the Corries be asked.
Bob Goldstein, the first audience member I called upon, admitted as much in his letter to the editor when he stated that he was stopped from reading a prepared statement that he had disseminated to 15 people in the audience.
Finally, I stand by my statements that I am neither pro-Palestinian nor anti-Israeli, and that my sole reasons behind producing the readings was to share this extraordinary play and work of art with the Wood River Valley. Rachel Corrie was an extremely idealistic young woman who chose to go to Palestine to work for human rights. The play is her story and her truths through her writings and her perceptions cannot be disputed or challenged. The readings were also a showcase for an immensely talented local actress—Charlotte Hemmings. As for the Corries, they will forever be struggling with the tragic death of their daughter. They have also done these Q&A sessions around the world, including Israel, and stated that the Tuesday night audience was the most contentious they had ever faced. This is not a distinction that we should be proud of in this valley. They were our invited quests and should have been treated as such instead of in the despicable manner that they were treated. Those people in the lobby afterwards that shouted "Shame on you" to myself and the Corries need to look in the mirror and repeat the same words to themselves.
Jonathan Kane
Broadford Road
Blaine County
