Re: Musicals/Jewish content (was Oliver)

[Alex J. Lubet <lubet001...>]

In the Yiddish theater, there was once a show about Estherka, the
medieval Jewish wife of a Catholic King of Poland.  I know more about
the legend than the show, but I seem to recall that Sholom Secunda was
involved.  The legend (it's not clear whether Estherka was an historical
figure) has been compared to the Purim story.

I'm also a little rusty on this one, but the original Broadway
production of Oklahoma included a star of the Yiddish theatre (can't
recall who it was) in the role of the Persian traveling salesman, Ali
Hakim.  Apparently, he'd played the role very Yiddishly for comic
effect.

I've also heard that an early draft of West Side Story had one of the
gangs being Jewish.  Frankly, that boggles the mind, not that there were
never Jewish gangs, but it's hard to imagine one in that show.

It's rather remarkable how few musicals have had Jewish content given
the Jewishness of so many of the creative forces.



Kfarcenter (at) aol(dot)com wrote:

>
> I mistakenly wrote Ragtime in place of Rags- thanks to Elliot for the
> correction.
>
> I've wondered why a true Story of Esther musical hasn't been mounted
> on or off Broadway.  The story and charachters lends themselves well
> enough.
>
> Conversely, has anyone attempted to compile  or do a "best of" from
> the wealth of Purim material acros the wrorld, eityher spiel or music
> related?
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Adam

--
Alex Lubet, Ph. D.
Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music
Adjunct Professor of American and Jewish Studies
Head, Division Of Composition and Music Theory
University of Minnesota
2106 4th St. S
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612 624-7840 612 624-8001 (fax)


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