Two anglo shows

Two American classics in local performances - Andrew Bergman's Social Security and Bernstein's West Side Story

By SHAWN RODGERS
Social Security, an American comedy for adults, is being performed this week by The Tel Aviv Community Theater, the oldest-established English theater company in Israel. Written by Andrew Bergman, who was responsible for the screenplay of the Mel Brooks classic Blazing Saddles. A yuppie couple who run a successful art gallery fly into a panic when the wife's mother threatens to move into their fancy East Side apartment for an extended stay. The play debuted on Broadway in 1986 with actors Ron Silver and Olympia Dukakis and was directed by Mike Nichols. The TACT version is directed by American-Israeli Shimon Mandel.
Click for upcoming events calendar! Social Security opens Tuesday and continues through December 31 at 8:30 p.m, with a special matinee on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m, Beit Yad Lebanim, 63 Pinkas St, NIS 55 (reduced rates for groups of 20 and over), NIS 45 for TACT members. Details: (03) 604-1701. HEY, OFFICER KRUPKE, THEY'RE BACK! To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the Beit Hillel Theater Workshop at the Hebrew University performs West Side Story. Based on Shakespeare's romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet, the musical - composed by Leonard Bernstein - is produced frequently by local theaters worldwide and occasionally by classical opera companies. This exploration of the rivalry between two gangs of different ethnic backgrounds focuses on young Tony, a member of an established local gang (the Jets), who falls in love with Maria, the sister of the leader of the Puerto Rican gang (the Sharks). The Beit Hillel Theater Workshop has been a magnet for talented overseas and English-speaking Israeli students since 1986, according to theater director Michael Berl, who has worked with it since its inception. West Side Story, December 24, 25, 26, 27 - at 7:30 p.m., and Thursday, December 28 at 6:30 p.m; Beit Hillel, Hebrew University, Mount Scopus. Admission is NIS 60; Hebrew University students and children under 12 pay NIS 45. Tickets: (02) 582-0231