The Retreat - Cameri Theater

The Retreat - a deadly comedy by Bat-Chen Sabag Yoni Berman, a wealthy and highly influential entrepreneur, is a man whose name stirs curiosity, admiration and, at times, no small amount of dubious rumors. For his birthday he invites a small group of close friends and acquaintances to a luxurious, isolated retreat in the heart of the desert. According to him, it's part of a personal journey of introspection and spiritual awakening he has been going through lately, but not everyone is convinced of the sincerity of his intentions. From the very start of the gathering the atmosphere is tense. The guests find it hard to ignore their host's controversial past, and each of them carries doubts, reservations and old baggage. Before long the gathering seems doomed to fail, and the participants decide to disperse and return to their routine lives. But then the weather completely changes the picture. A fierce, unexpected storm hits the area, cutting the villa off from all contact with the outside world and forcing everyone to shut themselves in together under the same roof once again. Between the raging desert winds and the sound of rain pounding the windows, the tension keeps rising. And then it happens. The lights go out all at once, darkness swallows the rooms, and before anyone can grasp what's happening — one of the guests is found lying on the floor, wounded and bleeding. In an instant the spiritual retreat turns into the scene of a dangerous mystery in which no one is free of suspicion. As the night goes on, secrets, lies and hidden ties between the participants are exposed. Each one has their own story, a possible motive, and a reason to hide the truth. Amid the suffocating atmosphere of isolation, facing the raging storm outside and the deepening suspicion inside, it becomes clear that there are things that cannot be left behind — not the past, not the mistakes, and certainly not the most closely guarded secrets. This is a gripping and brilliant comic thriller, combining sharp humor, surprising twists and hair-raising moments of tension. A show full of laughter, mystery and blood that will keep the audience on edge until the very last moment — and is certainly not recommended for the faint of heart. Directing and dramaturgy: Irad Rubinstein Set: Alexandra Nardi Costumes: Orna Smorgonsky Music: Roy Yarkoni Lighting: Matan Preminger Assistant director: Ido Bastiker Cast: Yaniv Suissa / Yoav Levy, Neta Garty / Bat-Chen Sabag, Ido Bartal, Kinneret Limoni / Andrea Schwartz, Yishai Golan, Eran Mor, David Bilenka, Louis Nofi, Anna Charit. The show is supported by the Yona Ettinger Fund - Howard Gilman. *The show includes partial nudity. *A cigarette-like stage prop is used in the show. *The show features the sound of gunfire, explosions and sirens, and flashing lights.