25/04/2024
John Nathan writing in the oldest Jewish newspaper in the world, the London based Jewish Chronicle, meets with playwright Paul Grellong about his play Power of Sail, which opens in London in April. “I am interested in the question of platforming,” says Grellong,. “I’m trying to prompt questions about [freedom of] speech and the lines between free speech and hate speech and how those lines have blurred.” Talking about his revisions of the twenty year old play, Mr Grellong says " Trump and the people around him allowed open white supremacists, racists and antisemites to assume prominence in the American political conversation and political life. That’s not to say that there haven’t always been Nazis hiding under rocks or living on a compound in Idaho. But the number of them that are now walking around Washington with American flags on their lapels, that’s what sent me back to the script.” This new production directed by Dominic Dromgoole stars Julian Ovenden as the world-weary history professor and free speech absolutist Charles Nichols. The show is co-produced by Daryl Roth who collaborated in bringing Paula Vogel’s acclaimed play Indecent to the same venue. Like all decent playwrights Grellong gives weight to views to which he does not necessarily subscribe. “Anybody who spends more than three minutes with me in a bar would not confuse me for a Trump voter,” he admits, lest there should be any doubt about his personal politics. John Nathan asked Mr Grellong about reports that Jewish support for Donald Trump is growing. " Jews are not a monolith,” he says. “There have always been Republican Jews. I think that Trump and the Israel question present a very dangerous path for Jews in the United States who are thinking about voting for a party that so openly aligns with white nationalists. [But] if issues about Israel or where Trump wants to move the [American] embassy [in Israel] are driving Jews to align themselves with a party comprised of noxious, bad faith people who do nothing to help the Jews of Israel or the world, I can’t understand it personally. I just don’t buy that today’s Republican Party is safe.” Power of Sail is at the Menier Chocolate Factory until 12 May. menierchocolatefactory.com
