Purim Shpiel maybes and don’ts
When I was growing up, the 8th graders would take a movie and/or musical and perform it altered to fit the Purim story. Many Jewish schools and synagogues have a similar tradition, especially because Purim is a fun holiday. Here are some musicals that might not work so well:
Annie: like, kind of, in theory, there’s some common ground. But also, NO. He’s her DAD.
Assassins: who would everyone even be? Actually, the majority of Sondheim musicals really don’t make sense as Purim shows for me.
Avenue Q (or Triassic Parq, for that matter): shows that are super graphic and have things like puppets or dinosaurs having intercourse are NOT the way to go.
Beetlejuice. While the younger girl and a sketchy older man thing would be more historically accurate, I don’t know that this would go over well.
I feel like Book of Mormon would be wrong on about 1 million levels but I’ve actually seen the music used… really.
Cats. I’ve said it a million times. We know Jellicles can. We know Jellicles do. We don’t know that Jellicles SHOULD.
G-dspell and Jesus Christ Superstar might not be a fit for a story about Jewish people getting to live.
Matilda, again, a child.
Parade, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, The Sound of Music, and The Producers… isn’t there enough antisemitism in the Purim story?
Rent. I. What purpose would that serve?
Some that would maybe work and be interesting but are a stretch:
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: you’re telling me you don’t want to see “A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Purim?”
Chess, in a really strange way. See also: Dogfight.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. As long as there’s no Brotherhood of (Ha)Man.
Hunchback of Notre Dame. I could see making Frollo Haman and Quasimodo Mordechai, and Esmerelda Esther, etc. Just not the most obvious choice.
Legally Blonde. I’d love to see someone make this make sense.
Little Shop of Horrors. if you HAD to do a show with puppets, it’d be this one. I also think a parody of the finale, called, “Don’t Kill the Jews” would be amusing.
Mean Girls. I feel like it would be another stretch, but it could work!
Shrek. I’d like to see someone try!
The Prom. Truly weird choice. I’ve heard of West Side Story and seen Hairspray and countless other love stories, though.
