March 8, 2026 5:30 pm
In this comedy-drama about loving outside the lines, Danny, 26, American, moved to Tel Aviv to escape overbearing parents and the looming threat of law school. During an air raid at the start of the Gulf War, he meets his neighbor, Maya, an ageless 52. They experience an immediate attraction. They can’t stay away from each other, despite nearly being discovered by her son, Yaya, who also happens to be Danny’s best friend.
The Gulf War is alternatively terrifying and boring, something like our recent pandemic. There is a real threat to life and limb, but everything is shut down. Danny and Maya convince themselves that since neither believes in love, an affair is perfect. Their age difference will stop them from getting in too deep. They commence a secret affair.
As the emotional stakes rise, their affair becomes both too much and not enough. When Danny’s parents visit Israel and Maya impulsively invites them to her Passover seder, all is revealed, for better or for worse.
Danny, 26, American but searching, confused by his past, but drawn toward the life not yet lived.
Maya, 52, Israeli, unselfconsciously stylish, magnetic in her agelessness, but armored by experience.
Yaya, Maya’s son, Israeli, late 20’s, blunt, sometimes obnoxiously so, caring but trapped in family obligation.
Bennie, Maya’s ex, middle aged, military bearing, preppy dress, once a war hero, now damaged.
Eileen, Danny’s mother, American, about the same age as Maya, but much older, dutiful and frustrated.
Gabe, Danny’s father, American, middle aged, ungrounded by the longing to live in Israel he can’t fulfill.
Runtime: 1 our and 15 minutes
Ages: Ages 13 and Older
Content Advisory: Mild swearing and references to grief. Mild depictions of smoking.
Joseph Bardin
Joseph is a playwright and essayist based in Arizona by way of Trenton, NJ, Washington DC and Tel Aviv. His plays explore going beyond traditional roles to find human connection. His work has been developed or produced at Rogue Theater Festival in NYC; Chicago Dramatists in Chicago; Order Chaos Theater Company, iTheatre Collaborative, Theatre Artists Studios, Space 55, Herberger Lunchtime Theater in Phoenix; Winding Road Theatre, Saddle Brook Theatre in Tucson; the La Jolla Theatre Ensemble, CA; Monroe County Civic Theater, Bloomington, IA; and KMC Onstage, Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Joe is the author of the essay collection, Outlier Heart (IFERS Press). His essays have appeared in numerous literary magazines including Interim, Louisville Review, Superstition Review, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, and Eclectica, and been anthologized in the Transhumanism Handbook (Springer).
Raghad Almakhlouf (Actress/Director)
DC area credits include: “American Fast” at Theater Alliance; “The Art of Care” at Mosaic Theater; “Agreste” and “Sonnets for an Old Century” at Spooky Action; “Selling Kabul” (Understudy) at Signature Theater; “Timon of Athens” (Understudy) at Shakespeare Theater Company; “In This Hope” with The Welders; “Hamlet” (The Reading) at Folger Theater. VT: “Hamlet/The Tempest Rep” at Shakespeare in The Woods. International credits include: SYRIA: “Wretched Dreams” and “AB negative” at The Opera House; “The Poster” at The Russian Cultural Center; “Tactic” at Alhamra Theater. DENMARK: “Venus Labyrinth” at Masnedo Fortress. Raghad appeared in over 400 hours of films and drama TV shows in Syria and Lebanon. She is a two times Helen Hayes nominee for outstanding ensemble.
Education: The Higher Institute of Drama, Syria: B.F.A; Shakespeare Theater Academy at GWU: M.F.A in classical acting.
Insta@raghadmakhlouf
Lisa Hodsoll is an actor, filmmaker, director and writer. She most recently appeared as an actor on Tires (Netflix), Chicago P.D. (NBC), the Apple TV + Series “”Lady In the Lake”” and the film “”Jesus Land”” (in post production). She is the founder and artistic director of Open Road, a not for profit arts group that promotes and supports independent artists, playwrights and filmmakers and the founder of the Open Road Film festival for shorts.”