A Complex Exploration of Identity, Conflict, and Intersection in ‘The Ally’

Watching The Ally at Mixed Blood Theatre was a stirring experience, tackling themes of identity, loyalty, and division within the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while masterfully exploring intersecting relationships.

The play captures the tensions between people from different backgrounds, including Asian vs. American, Black vs. White, Jew vs. Jew, Palestinian vs. Israeli, men vs. women, and business vs. academia. Seeing so many layers of conflict portrayed was powerful and painful. All audiences will find this exploration particularly relevant as we all navigate our own complex identities and connections to Israel and the broader world. 

At the center of The Ally is Asaf, a Jewish professor who finds himself tangled in ideology, academic pressures, and interpersonal divides. Asaf is a writer/academic who initially appears confident in his liberal values, but as he faces escalating demands from those around him he is forced to confront competing values and grapple with what is truly most important to him.  The play illustrates his struggle as he faces pressure from students, peers and family who are firmly entrenched on either side of the Israeli-Palestinian debate. 

This isn’t a play that seeks to provide clear answers but rather promotes the need for clarity itself, a nuanced position that encourages us to wrestle with ambiguity rather than avoid it. The play’s exploration of intersections shows us how identity and loyalty are shaped by various cultural and ideological rifts, illustrating that even the most defined perspectives can be fluid and subject to change. 

A world without the “Fanatical Moderate” 

While the play does offer diverse perspectives, it notably lacks a “fanatical moderate” – someone who could serve as a grounded yet passionate advocate for understanding both sides. Instead, the characters represent a spectrum of extremes, leaving Asaf caught between worlds without a guiding voice to bridge them.

This absence highlights the difficulty, and perhaps even the loneliness, of seeking understanding in a polarized environment – a feeling many in our community may recognize as they grapple with their own beliefs and values. This play is a reminder that sometimes certainty lies in accepting uncertainty and embracing the ability to pivot, especially when facing shifting beliefs and relationships. 

Asaf’s character adds a layer of realism, depicting the experience of being an academic wrestling with issues larger than himself. He’s not a straightforward hero or anti-hero but rather a conflicted intellectual trying to navigate between the influences around him. His struggle reflects the broader human challenge of balancing diverse and often competing perspectives—a concept that may resonate with audiences facing similar pressures to “pick a side” in a divided world. 

The human cost and cultural divides 

One strength of The Ally is its raw portrayal of how ideological divides shape lives, underscoring the difficulty of finding common ground. Through characters deeply entrenched in their perspectives – whether pro-Israel, pro-Palestinian, or somewhere in between – the play illustrates the human cost of a world where people see only the divide rather than the individual. This lack of compromise underscores the power of clarity, reminding us that while perspectives differ, a shared commitment to understanding can be a powerful force. 

The Ally is a compelling, if somewhat unsettling, portrayal of how identity, conflict, and personal values intersect and sometimes clash. The characters, while passionate, often seem locked in rigid perspectives, leaving Asaf to drift without a clear moral path. This may serve as both a cautionary tale and an invitation to seek balance and resilience. 

The production reminds us that clarity doesn’t always mean having firm answers, but rather embracing flexibility and openness to new perspectives. The play suggests that a healthy approach to life and these complex issues lies in the certainty of uncertainty and the courage to pivot when faced with new truths. In this way, The Ally is a timely and relevant exploration of what it means to hold onto humanity in a divided world. 

‘The Ally,’ written by Itamar Moses and directed by Mark Valdez, is at Mixed Blood through Nov. 17. Tickets are available online.

Steve Lear is the founder of SteveLear.org, a learning center for personal finance, leadership, and generosity.