[HANASHIR:5475] Oy

[RMann73214 <RMann73214...>]

Hey y'all-

I just sent in my check for HN2K.  I can't wait.  Last year was my first 
chance to stay for a  HN Shabbat.  It was so wonderful.   Well, the whole 
thing was pretty damn wonderful.

BTW, I ordered the Swig/Newman CD from Soundswrite.  I received it three days 
later with a thank you note.  Hmmmmm.  Maybe this internet e-shopping stuff 
really does work.  It was my first e-shopping experience.  Oh yeah, and the 
CD is fantastic.

I thought that I would toss out an idea to those of you who might be 
responsible for some form of Purim Shpiel.   I started a tradition at our 
shul a few years ago when I was faced with this task.   Instead of picking a 
musical and spoofing it,  we just set about writing song parodies.  Drawing 
from all types of music: standards, musical theater, rock/pop.  The songs 
were about everything from the Purim story to satire about the temple or 
about the Jewish community in general.   Each song was a separate bit.   

I then wrote little comedy dialogue intros for most of the songs.   We had a 
cast of 8.  Some songs were full cast, some were duets and some were solos.

Then we wrote some comedy sketches, a Top Ten List, and a spoof of the Friday 
night Shabbat pulpit announcements (which by the way is a GREAT vehicle for 
satire)

Then we mixed all that together interspersing songs with the comedy, got 
piano bass and drums to back us up (although a decent pianist should be able 
to handle it) and voila..... Purim Shpiel 2000.  

Just a thought.


And now I will leave you with this little parody I wrote years ago.
It's sung to the tune of  Wonderful Coppenhagen from Hans Christian Anderson
Feel free to use it.  


Wonderful Hoomentaschen
Music by Frank Loesser
Parody lyrics by Rick Mann



Wonderful Wonderful Hoomentaschen
Truly a Purim delight
If it's fruit you need
Maybe poppyseed
Let us bake
And take
A bite

of

Wonderful Wonderful Hoomentaschen
Shaped triangularly
Named for Haman's hat
Sometimes low in fat
Have a Hoomentaschen
Wonderful, Wonderful
Hoomentaschen with me.



Later,


Rick Mann

------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+