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Page 30 The th OSCAR - OUR 36 YEAR
DEC 2008
By Linda Belanger
Rim Jaber of OOS has been chosen
to play the role of a Palestinian
mother in the play Three
Wishes opening at The Gladstone theatre on
December 2 nd .
Rim is a full time lecturer at the Telfer
School of Management, University of
Ottawa. Three Wishes is Rim’s first venture
into English community theatre but the 35
year old already has valuable experience in
the field of drama. “I have acted and danced
since the age of eight in community theater
and school plays in Lebanon”, she says. In
Canada, she starred in 1996 in an Arabic play
produced by the Lebanese Canadian Theater
Company.
Three Wishes is based on Deborah
Ellis’ controversial book “Three Wishes:
Palestinian and Israeli Children
Speak”. Rim had not read the book before
she auditioned but as a child she lived many
of these stories. “Through my role I am
re-living my childhood memories she says.
“When I was nine, my house in Lebanon was
burned, the men in my family were killed,
women and children were kidnapped. War
is devastating, and the only way to move
forward is to forgive and hope for a better
future”.
The production puts the spotlight on three
Sponsored by Potlucks for Peace
One wall…two people…three wishes. This
original theatrical production brings to life
the stories of Israeli and Palestinian children,
honoring their words and offering a sobering glimpse
into their disturbing reality. The play is written by
Samah Sabawi and is based on the book ‘Three
Wishes’ by acclaimed Canadian author Deborah Ellis.
Directed by Alain Chamsi.
OOS U of O Lecturer Plays
Palestinian Mom In Peace Production
Palestinian stories and three Israeli stories.
The play is performed on a split stage divided
by a wall.
On one side of the wall is Talia, a Jewish
girl who lives the life of a normal teen but is
constantly under the shadow of terror. On the
other side is Wafa, a Palestinian girl whose
home has been demolished by the Israeli
government for the third time. Rim plays
Wafa’s mother. She has become so depressed
that she has stopped speaking. Her story is
the story of many Palestinians - over 18,000
Palestinians homes have been demolished by
the Israeli government since the 1967 war in
the West Bank and Gaza.
After just over a month and a half of
rehearsals, Rim says that she is glad that her
busy work schedule did not stop her from
acting. “Acting is my passion, teaching is my
career. Through the play I am acting on my
passion and spreading knowledge about what
is going on in my homeland. Knowledge is
the power that will play an important role in
bring about justice and peace”.
The play which is sponsored by the
Arab-Jewish dialogue group Potlucks for
Peace runs from December 2 nd to 13 th at the
Gladstone Theatre. Tickets are $25 and can
be purchased by phone (613 233-4523). For
more information go to www.thegladstone.
ca
A Samah Sabawi Production
Tickets $25
To reserve your seats call the
Box Office 613.233.4523
Show Times: December 2 to December 13, 2008
Tuesday - Saturday: 7:30PM
Sunday Matinee: 3:00PM
http://thegladstone.ca/?page_id=440
Rim Jaber
Glebe BIA Announces
Executive Director
The Board of Management
of the new Glebe Business
Improvement Area (BIA) is
pleased to announce that Catherine
Lindquist has been retained to
serve as Executive Director.
Ms. Lindquist has previously worked
as Senior Advisor in the office
of former Mayor Bob Chiarelli
and as Vice-President, Industry
Development with the Ottawa
Tourism and Convention Authority.
The Glebe BIA, formed in June 2008,
represents over 300 diverse business
and commercial property owners. It is
Ottawa’s 15th BIA.
For further information, please
contact:
Greg Best, Chair, Glebe BIA
Tel.: 613 563-0285
Cell: 613 355-8190
Email: gregbest59@hotmail.com