THE BUSHNELL WELCOMES "THE BAND'S VISIT"

One wrong turn, one misunderstood direction, the lack of a map or GPS and one can find oneself stuck in the middle of nowhere. That is the fate of a band of musicians traveling from Egypt on their way to perform a concert in Petah Tikvah in Israel. Through mistakes and poor language skills, they end up in the forsaken town of Bet Hatikah, unexpected and uninvited. Written with book by Hamar Moses, with music and lyrics by David Yazbek, “The Band’s Visit” is based on a film of the same name. The Bushnell Theater in Hartford will feature this intriguing musical adventure from Tuesday, November 16 to Sunday, November 21. In 1996, the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra arrive in Israel all set to perform a concert for a local Arab organization. When no one arrives to greet them at the central bus station in Tel Aviv, the group’s leader instructs the young officer Haled to purchase tickets to their destination: Petah Tikvah. Unfortunately, due to his Egyptian accent, the clerk misunderstands his request and sells him tickets to the Jewish isolated desert town of Bet Hatikvaand the misadventure begins. The residents of Bet Hatikva wouldn’t recognize excitement if it knocked them on their head; they are bored with the monotony of their every day lives. Currently they spend their time waiting for anything of interest to happen. When the band arrives, led by Colonel Tewfig Zakania, they are tired and hungry and out-of-sorts, They approach two cafe workers Papi and Itzik seeking directions to the Arab cultural center for their performance the following day. Papi and Itzik, realizing there must be a mistake, ask the cafe owner Dina, a vivacious woman, for help. Dina quickly realizes the group are in the wrong place and offers food and lodging as they wait for a bus to take them to the correct destination. What transpires is conversations and connections between the band and the town’s people. There is bonding and a real exchange of confidences. Love is caught on the gentle desert breeze. No one is quite the same by morning. For tickets ($31.50 and up), call the Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford at 860-987-5900 or online at bushnell.org. Remember your vaccination card and mask. Come discover for yourself how a single geographical mistake has the power to change lives forever.