Hitler musical big hit in Israel

[STEED]

Hitler musical big hit in Israel
By Martin Patience
BBC News website, Tel Aviv


Actor Itzak Cohen says the musical does not mock World War II
Surrounded by goose-stepping sidekicks, Hitler, with his trademark black moustache, bursts onto the stage to the song Spring-time For Hitler - in Tel Aviv.

Performed by a cast of 80 Israeli actors in Hebrew, Mel Brooks' Broadway farce The Producers is taking Israel by storm.

Every night at the Cameri Theatre, musical-goers pack out the 920-seat venue to see dancing Fuehrers and brown-shirts decked out in swastikas.

In an irony that Mr Brooks would probably appreciate, the musical - whose plot revolves around two producers' plan to stage a Nazi musical which will crash at the box office - is set to extend its original run by another 100 shows.

"If there's one place in the world that has full licence to make fun of Hitler, it's here," says the Israeli director of the musical, Micah Levensohn.

"You hear Wagner on the radio, we see Holocaust documentaries almost every night on the TV, so why not show The Producers?"

While some Israelis may find the prospect of a musical that features Nazis distasteful, Itzak Cohen, who plays Hitler in the show, says The Producers does not make light of events in the World War II.

I think for those who suffered in the camps or had loved ones that died during the war this would be too much

Chanan Landau


"The Producers makes fun of everyone: old women, gay people, blondes, Jews, producers and Nazis. I'm making a mockery out of Hitler. I look a super-sized Hitler - a Hitler meets McDonalds," says the portly actor, sitting in his mirrored dressing room backstage.

The Cameri Theatre had been trying to perform The Producers for years but it was only last year that it secured the rights, says theatre manager Noam Semel.

Mixed reactions

While Mr Semel says that "Jewish audiences are very sophisticated", he admits that some small changes were made to The Producers in rehearsals to avoid unnecessarily upsetting people.


The musical is set to run for another 100 shows
Whenever the Jewish characters Bialystock and Bloom mention the word "Hitler" they spit and say the ancient Hebrew curse "yimakh shmo" ("may his name be erased").

The put-downs of Nazism are also more pointed than the original Broadway production.

Theatre staff were braced for protests on the opening night but they never materialised.

"We had never had a comedy involving Hitler," says Mr Levensohn, standing backstage after the show. "But I was pleasantly surprised that nobody protested."

But some of the audience who attended a performance of The Producers say it was not to their taste.

Chanan Landau, 83, and his wife Rachael, 81, fled Germany in 1933, the year Hitler came to power.

They say that the musical would make uncomfortable viewing for some of their friends.

I think it's important because it gives you a perspective of life... It shows that we're survivors

Rutz Aknin

"I think for those who suffered in the camps or had loved ones that died during the war this would be too much," says Mr Landau, "even if it doesn't bother me."

"While it was 60 years ago, there will never be enough time of these people to get over it," adds his wife.

But Rutz Aknin says showing The Producers in Tel Aviv shows that Israeli society has moved on in the last 60 years.

"I think it's important because it gives you a perspective of life. Now that we can laugh about Hitler and this makes us a stronger," says the 51-year-old. "It shows that we're survivors."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4883784.stm

WOW what can I say.

[The Avon Lady]

I've never knew that "The Producers" is a "Hitler musical".

Oh, and Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder are Nazi lovers.

BBC? Might as well have been the Sunday Mail.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by The Avon Lady

Oh, and Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder are Nazi lovers.

I hope your joking TAL (or at least talking about the movie). Wilder was the son of Jewish Immigrants.

[Mike 'Red Ocktober' Hense]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Good One STEED!!!

i guess we all asked for this :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

--Mike

[The Avon Lady]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

I hope your joking TAL (or at least talking about the movie). Wilder was the son of Jewish Immigrants.

Of course I'm kidding.

Seems like Mike has the giggles again.

[STEED]

Originally Posted by Mike 'Red Ocktober' Hense

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Good One STEED!!!

i guess we all asked for this :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

--Mike

Glad to hear that Mike.