Maureen Lipman

Who is allowed to play Richard III?

issue 08 June 2024

On Tuesday night I was body double/understudy for the brave, brainy, beautiful Rachel Riley, at a packed ‘support Israel’ evening. The keynote speaker was the brave, brainy, beautiful lawyer Natasha Hausdorff. I was slightly out of my depth but I hope I provided some light relief. Natasha was dazzling in defence of beleaguered democracy, but the facts are sombre and the audience went home a little more concerned about our future in the diaspora. Anti-Semitism is known to be a light sleeper. I fear it may become insomniac.

I’ve been arguing vehemently with my brother Geoff about everything and nothing for 75 years. Inevitably, these days, our arguments are about Israel. I went with my chap David to stay with Geoff for three days in Belgium and I think David was somewhat shocked by the sight of the two of us fighting. First night:

Geoff (reasonable, provocative): It’s simple. They should just assassinate Hamas leaders.

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