Naharin’s Virus

'Ohad Naharin's Virus' is an adaptation of 'Offending the Audience', a play by Austrian playwright, author and poet Peter Handke. Considered one of the most important postmodern writers since Beckett, Handke’s works have often been compared to those of Kafka. His pieces, much like Naharin's, are avant-garde, controversial, and extremely ironic and often challenge the limits of language (physical limits in Naharin's case).'Offending the Audience' is an hour-long play in which the actors shoot verbal spitfire at the audience. The play, written in 1966, aims to leave the audience feeling ill at ease, yet intrigued and wanting more. Naharin and sixteen of the Batsheva’s Young Ensemble dancers have adapted this same goal. Rather than just evoke a feeling, Naharin wants the feeling to elicit a response.