MAZELTOV! JEWISH PANTO STRIKES AGAIN
Goldie Frocks, rightful heiress to an East End schmutter workshop, has been enslaved by the evil Calvin Brine, whose behemoth of too-small garments for annoyingly skinny individuals has pushed the bears who run the Circus Oy Vay away from their East End houses to Pinchley Road. Brine is plotting to seize the youngest of the dynasty as he prepares for his bear-mitzvah. and flip him right into a coat. Big Mama Bear in her huge frocks – Debbie Chazen no much less – and gallant little Goldie in her skirt of remnants should foil this plan. They are assisted by the pearly-jacketed Morris Bloom and his conjuring tips earlier than the curtain (all of which work). Morris is the magician Ian Saville, one of many oldest performers to make a panto debut this 12 months.
As seasoned panto-goers know, the right strategy to being again concord and justice is to pur new phrases to numerous songs – from Fairytale of New York to Reviewing the Situation from Oliver, and together with Mein Herr from Cabaret (mein Bear, obvs) . You should additionally make numerous horrifying puns (“I’m beartrayed! Says Chazen the overbear-ing matriarch). Be certain to woo and taunt the younger viewers and make them yell, guarantee you’ve got a custard-pie struggle and a zombie behind-you second (the zombie is a retired accountant). Oh, and ensure your characters confuse a kippah with a kipper
For that is Jewish panto, a newfledged style: cue sly cultural references , like the truth that “No Jewish news is good news”, and that each web page of the Jewish Chronicle is filled with Volvos on the market. Keep the schmutter jokes going, with a tailoring plot and props and magic tips with basting thread. Explain that the Rabbi Schlomo Drake, a squawking puppet, is “one of those orthoducks” . Ensure that Mama’s closing costume is adorned with big pickles and a suggestive gherkin, bagels on head. . Recruit a really thundering bass villain. – ..on this case the admirable Simon Yadoo, becoming a member of the solid between two five-star seasons as Yerucham in of “What we talk about..etc” at rhe Marylebone theatre (scroll down for evaluation). His huge quantity within the second half is magnificent.
Oh, and throw some chocolate gelt cash round and have a energetic onstage band to maintain the songs rolling. The band’s terrific: Josh Middleton on accordion , Daniel Gouly on clarinet ,Christina Borgenstierna on the Ukrainian klezmer drum “Klezmerize” each tune with vigour, the finale mixing a celebratory bar-mitzvah dance with “Maybe its as a result of I’m a Londoner’ The 300-odd young children on the first faculties matinee clapped and stamped.
If any neighborhood’s young children wanted reassurance of excellent over evil proper now, it’s this one, at a time when morons throw stones at college buses. Last 12 months, in he shocked aftermath of the Hamas murders and through the differently-shocking upswing of shaming UK antisemitism, JW3 commissioned and ran the primary ever Jewish pantomime, full wih Big Bad Pig. I puzzled on the time why it was the primary such joyful cultural melding: what with the Jewish showbiz pedigree, dame-worthy matriarchy and custom of sharp selfmocking wit and ornament, panto feels completely pure. And it was simply what was wanted, in its defiant frivolity and coronary heart.
So right here we’re once more, as soon as extra the ebook written by Nick Cassenbaum, directed this time by Abigail Anderson: a brand new custom born in an indignant century. I noticed the primary, barely raggedy faculties matinee however its very raggediness made it hotter. And oh sure, there are some jokes for naughty adults within the evenings, which mercifully went over six rows of little heads. Every circus zoo, in spite of everything, boasts a beaver. And there needed to be an Alan Sugar joke, Oh sure there did. Chanukah Sameach!
field workplace jw3.org.uk to five Jan
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