Comedy Dispels Arab-Jewish Bigotry

By Pat McDonnell Twair

Television star Vic Tayback is custom designed for his leading role as Youssef Joseph in "An Oasis in Manhattan." the first-ever comedy written about Arab Americans, revived for Southern Californian audiences in 1990.

Ironically, Tayback, who became a familiar figure as Mel, the loud-mouthed, skinflint diner owner, in 200 TV segments of "Alice," played a minor role in "Oasis'' when it was first performed for Los Angeles audiences in 1966.

Lebanese-American playwright S. K. Hershewe explains that in its first incarnation this comedy about a Lebanese-American girl who brings home a Jewish-American fiance appealed chiefly to Jewish audiences. Then the 1967 war dampened their interest.

"The time is right," Hershewe said, discussing the play's 1990 revival. "In 1966 no one had ever heard of Lebanon. They sure have now. Besides that, all statistics point to intermarriage in the US, and 'Oasis' sets the scene."

The play opened Feb. 10 at the Venture Theater in Burbank, and will play consecutive weekends through March 24. The "Oasis" is Youssef's household and he runs it like a dictator. He loves the US. He voted for Eisenhower, Nixon and Reagan. He believes in education and democracy. But this Arab Archie Bunker zealously upholds Lebanese tradition in his home. When it comes to marriage, he wants his daughters to marry Lebanese.

"These attitudes are universal," explained Tayback, an Arab American himself, in a phone interview. "Immigrants to the US try to hold onto their traditions. Youssef definitely is bigoted. He criticizes Armenians. Greeks, Jews, Swedes, Italians and Irish. Basically, anyone who isn't Lebanese doesn't meet his standards."

Hershewe's dialogue faithfully depicts a classic conflict between Youssef and his American-born daughters. It sensitively contrasts his Lebanese-born wife and sister, cowed by his outbursts, with his new-world daughters, unruffled by his bombast.

The engagement party at Youssef's house, with neither set of parents forewarned about the other's ethnicity, is a Middle Eastern variation on "Abie's Irish Rose" of two generations ago. One of the best parts is played by Jane Hamilton as Selma Schroeder, the middle-aged "Jewish-American princess" mother of the bridegroom-to-be, who is every bit as bigoted as Youssef, and can match him, prejudice for prejudice.

The play, written before "All in the Family" became the number one TV hit in the US in 1971, has a cast of polished professional actors, and is ably directed by T.J. Castronovo, a veteran producer and director of TV's "Tales from the Darkside." The result is a thought-provoking comedy delightfully summed up by Tayback:

"The play's message is that it's the kids who are going to take us away from prejudice between Arabs and Jews."

Dole Honored Americans by Lebanese

Senate Minority Leader Robert Dole's appearance at a banquet sponsored by the American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL) attracted an audience of more than 700 to the Anaheim Marriott Hotel on Feb. 3. For those who expected Dole to elaborate on his suggestions that Israel be called to account for taking actions that jeopardize American lives, and that US aid to all major recipients, including Israel, be reduced, Dole's speech was as disappointing as the absence of a predicted rainstorm in drought-stricken Southern California.

While calling for all foreign forces to withdraw from Lebanon, Dole only once mentioned Israel's presence in Lebanon, in contrast to a lengthy diatribe against Syrian troops in the beleaguered state.

ATFL Chairman Peter J. Tanous said his expectations were nonetheless fulfilled by Dole's endorsement of ATFL's proposal that the Bush administration send an American envoy to assist the Arab League, the Vatican and France to negotiate a solution for the conflict in Lebanon.

At the ceremony emceed by broadcaster Casey Kasem, Dole was presented the 1990 Philip C. Habib award for distinguished public service. The award was presented last year to Democratic Majority Leader George Mitchell, a Lebanese-American.

Dole proposed three courses of action to address Lebanon's "nightmare." He urged American-Lebanese to speak out about the situation in Lebanon and pledged to use his own influence to implement the creation of a special American envoy. Third, he called for all foreign forces to withdraw immediately from Lebanon.

"Diplomatic pressure must be applied to Damascus," he stated. "Lebanon can no longer be a sideshow to the center stage effort for an international peace conference."

Dole also mentioned the then pending meeting between Secretary of State James Baker III and his Soviet counterpart, Eduard A. Shevardnadze, in Moscow. Along with California Senator Pete Wilson (one of Israel's staunchest Senate supporters), Dole said he had recommended that Baker put a yellow light on US-Soviet relations until the Soviets talk to Syria about its presence in Lebanon.

Dole called on both sides in Christian East Beirut to lay down their arms. "No cause is served when Christian kills Christian-or Shi'a kills Shi'a," he stated. "The biggest barrier to peace is the unwillingness of certain Lebanese to put aside their own narrow interests for the survival of the country.

"If we don't stand up for Lebanon now, who will?" he asked. "If we don't speak now, there may be only silence in five years."

Dr. Ray Irani, president of Occidental Petroleum, presented the ATFL Man of the Year award to Dr. Joseph J. Jacobs, chairman of Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. The ATFL's stated goals are to unite all Americans of Lebanese heritage to promote national unity of a democratic Lebanon, heighten US awareness of the situation there, and promote a greater US involvement to bring about a peaceful settlement. The event was chaired by Mounzer Chaarani.

Pat McDonnell Twair is a free-lance writer based in Los Angeles.