Start Your Purim Fun With the Original Musical Purim Spiel

By Jeffrey Rosen

Come and cheer beautiful Queen Esther and noble Mordechai as they save the Jewish people from the clutches of the murderous Haman on Saturday March 3, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. The Ways and Means Committee is proud to announce that the full length original musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Purim or the Villain Punished” will be presented at Mishkan Torah at that time.

The musical is a hilarious retelling of the Purim story. The score is a tuneful pastiche borrowed from Broadway, opera, Gilbert and Sullivan, and good old rock ‘n’roll. Even Lady Gaga is scheduled to make an appearance! 

The score features such hits as “We Jews Don’t Bow!,” “Roll Over, Haman!,” and “We’re Going to the Gallows and We’re Going to Hang Haman.”

The cast is busily rehearsing the show, which is a revival and updating of the original 1987 hit for a new generation. It features a cast of approximately twenty performers, including teenagers. Real life fiancés, Ben Greenfield and  Rachel White, star as the royal couple King Ahasuerus and Queen Esther.

Musical theater and comedy veteran David Herschler is directing the show, as he did in 1987. Mishkan Torah’s Pied Piper Bret Goldstein l upholds the honor of the Jewish people in his portrayal of the valiant hero, Mordechai. Cantor Yael Fischman will play the harridan Former Queen Vashti, while long-time Mishkan Torah performer Evey Herschler will move things along as the narrator, the role she played in the 1987 premiere.

You will have the opportunity to hiss, boo, and blot out the despicable villain you love to hate, Haman, once again played by Jeffrey Rosen. They will be supported by a galaxy of other characters such as royal chamberlains, doo-wopping plotters, Miss Upper Lower Turkestan, and Lady Debita, the Lord High Royal Auditor, who will be played by real-life Mishkan Torah Financial Secretary Arlene Gottlieb.

There will be one show only, and you will not want to miss the music and the fun!

The fun-filled evening will conclude with light refreshments. Tickets for the show are on sale now, and a sell-out is expected. The cost for the entire evening is only $10 for adults and $5 dollars for children. You may order tickets directly from the Synagogue, and make donations in multiples of chai ($18).

Donations are welcome even if you are unfortunately unable to attend the show. You may order tickets and make donations by means of the flyer appearing in this issue of “The Trumpet” or otherwise. You may also make reservations on-line at www.MishkanTorahSynagogue.org and by following the prompts for “Purim Spiel.”  

The show is family friendly, and is intended to be enjoyed by children of all ages who like a good story and delightful music. See you there on March 3!