Purim "Schpiels"

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 9:46pm

For those of us celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim later in the week (commemorating Queen Esther's outfoxing the wicked Haman), what "schpiel" (satirical plays) topics are your synagogues presenting? Last year, I wrote "Les Fantome Miserables," complete with crashing chandelier. It was a little beyond the capabilities of our tiny amateur group. This year, we're spoofing "The Sound of Music." Because everyone knows the story, music, and words, the cast seems more comfortable this year. Also, I left out the hardest songs -- "Climb Every Mountain" is just too difficult for most sopranos to sing unless they're professionals. I've made sure that we're family-friendly; any off-color jokes are cut off so that only the adults understand. (Ex: "Father says they're called nuns because they get --," with the next line cutting in at that point.) Anyone have any interesting Purim "schpiel" anecdotes?

[Jon]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 5:26am

Around 1970, my Hebrew school class did a Purim schpiel in the style of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. In one bit, I played Tiny Tim (the cult entertainer, not the Dickens character), singing "Tiptoe Through the Torah."

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 7:09pm

Tiptoe through the Torah? I LOVE it!