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PETER FRYE died in England last week at the age of 77 after a long illness. Director, actor, designer and playwright, Frye helped mold the Israeli theater from the very beginning of statehood, and before he finally left Israel some 25 years later, he had made himself known to a whole new generation through educational television.
"He was a fascinating, spellbinding man," says actor and Tel Aviv University (TAU) theater archivist Shimon Lev-Ari, who knew him well. "He had strong principles, theatrical principles and he got very upset when asked to compromise. He acknowledged that theater should entertain but he also truly believed that it should make people better and teach them to love one-another.
"It was risky to disagree with him, but his anger never lasted very long and five minutes later, his arm would be along your shoulders as if nothing had happened."
It must have been very difficult for that energetic, restless, multi-talented man during the last four years. Following a stroke four years ago which had left one side paralyzed, he was confined to a wheelchair much of the time.
"I remember sitting by his bedside at the hospital," recalls actor Oded Teomi. "He kept muttering that he didn't...