Body of Work

JUSTIFYING THE MEANS:
PLAN-B'S MASADA ARGUES ZIONIST EXTREMES
(excerpt)
February 25, 1999, Scott C. Morgan, City Weekly                                 

The people of Plan-B have done it again with Masada , challenging the usual norms of Salt Lake theater by bringing a thought-provoking production to light. But unlike other Plan-B productions that teem with theatricality, Masada relies almost entirely on its argumentative dialogue to incite thinking responses from the audience. oto: Fred Hayes

Set in the form of a lecture, Masada consists entirely of a female Israeli historian presenting her views on Jewish history from the Old Testament to today.

It seems that Masada playwright Arthur Milner and Plan-B are intentionally stirring up the ingredients for controversy and cries of anti-Semitism. But at the same time, Masada doesn't just critique the forces involved in the creation of Israel, but all nations and groups that come into power and ultimately write history as the winners.

Both [actor Gayle] Staffanson and director Tobin Atkinson clearly feel the material is important, and it shows in Plan-B's intelligent rendering of Masada .