Jac Weinstein’s light-hearted musical comedy satirizes Jewish life in Helsinki in 1940.
The clothing trade has been affected by severe rationing, which is driving shop owner Josef Kleiderman crazy. The arrival of a mannequin doll takes his thoughts back to Paris and its carefree life, shattered by the Nazi German invasion.
It seems, as if by magic the doll comes alive and Josef finds himself flirting with her. His strange behaviour makes his wife Hannah suspicious and jealous. The comedy features popular Yiddish and French songs from the time. The performance is in English, Yiddish and French.
The Who’s Who in this Musical Comedy
Directed by AVIVA PELHAM. Musical Director and Musical Arrangements by MATTHEW REID. Set and Costumes Design by MICHAEL MITCHELL. Choreography by ROXY LEVY. Lighting Design by KIERAN MCGREGOR. Translation from Yiddish by SIMO MUIR. Script Adaptation by AVIVA PELHAM. Music by SAUL CHAPLIN/SAMUEL STEINBERG, JEAN LENOIR. FOLK. HANS KRASA, JAC WEINSTEIN, CARLOS SAURA
CAST
Josef Kleiderman, a clothes merchant: NICHOLAS ELLENBOGEN
Hannah, his wife: MICHELE MAXWELL
Dovid, Kleiderman’s employee: RONNIE CHORN
A mannequin doll: VANESSA BRIERLEY
Synagogue Sexton: ISSY KULBER
Male customer: MATTHEW REID
A porter: PETRI SALONEN
Female customer: NICKY JANSEN
MUSICIANS
Clarinet, saxophone: MATTHEW REID
Violin: PETRI SALONEN
Keyboard, guitar, accordion: NICKY JANSEN
STAGE MANAGER: Kieran McGregor
“Aviva is the doyenne of South African opera singers, a fabulous cabaret artist and great director and musician, a dear person, and my choice as director for “A Comedy of Us Jews”. Dr Peter Martens – Stellenbosch University
WHAT: International Festival, “Out of the Shadows: Rediscovering Jewish Music and Theatre”
WHERE: Jewish Museum, Hatfield Street, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: Tuesday 12 September @ 8pm
TICKETS: R150pp | Groups of ten or more people: R99pp
To Book: All Computicket outlets | Computicket Call Centre on 0861 915 8000 | ON-LINE HERE. Seating is limited so book early.
