By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — You might have to watch the movie Hairspray several times to fully appreciate just how clever were the Tifereth Israel Synagogue writing team of Susan Levy, Amy Stanley, Beth Klareich, Maya Klareich, Jerry Hermes and Cheryl Katz. In the Purimshpiel presented Saturday evening, March 15, they successfully integrated the Hairspray plot with that of the Book of Esther.
Thus, Hairspray’s “pleasantly plump” character of Tracy, who always dreamed of performing on television, was converted into Esther, and the competition to be on the TV show of Corny Collins (or Corny Cohen as he was known in the Purimshpiel) was moved to the palace of King Ahashuerus , where the best contestant not only could win a spot on Corny’s show, but also could become the Queen of Shushan.
Tracy Esther, who won the competition, was played by Johanna Saylor; King Ahashuerus by Alan Goldenberg, and Corny Cohen by Maxim Matkovski.
In Hairspray, Tracy’s best friend was named Penny, but in the Purimshpiel Penny uses her “Jewish name, Shekel.” In the movie, Tracy’s chief rival for TV stardom is Amber Von Tussle. The character of Amber appeared again in the Purimshpiel, as the daughter of Haman (boo!) Van Tussle, chief counselor to King Ahashuerus. Haman (who in this Purimshpiel was a woman) hates Esther because she has spoiled her hopes of Amber becoming the queen. By extension, Haman hates all Jews, whom she hopes to get rid of. (With many elementary school students seated on a rug in the front of Tifereth Israel’s Cohen Social Hall, the sex and violence of The Book of Esther were omitted in favor of Hairspray elements, so exactly how Haman wanted to get rid of the Jews was left ambiguous.)
Penny was played by Rachel Barron; Amber by Maya Kaufmann; and Haman by Christina de Jesus.
In Hairspray, Tracy’s mother, Edna Turnblad, was played in drag by John Travolta, and in the Purimshpiel, Esther Tracy’ aunt, “Edna Mordechai,” was portrayed in a wig and a housecoat by Jerry Hermes, who often is the star of the annual Purim farces produced to the great delight of the hundreds who comprise the audiences at the Conservative congregation.
The other main character in the Book of Esther is the banished Queen Vashti, who makes a rocking surprise appearance in this version of the story. She was played by Sue Hermes (wife of Jerry), who with a change of wig and dress also participated in the chorus line. Other singing and dancing cast members included Maya Ziegler, Reed Wilton, Marni Wilton, Maya Williams, Linda Williams, Estie Sherbak, Arielle Sherbak, Renae Polyakov, Maya Klareich, Tara Kaufman, Cheryl Katz, and Sydney Detmer. (Yup, that’s “reverse Purim-style alphabetical order). Cast members were costumed by Giela Gray, and spotlighted through the production by Thomas Morris.
If anyone seeing the Purimshpiel felt confused about what the real story of Purim was about, well, a full, regulation, Megillah-reading in Tifereth Israel’s chapel followed the musical production. And, what Jewish holiday (except Yom Kippur) would be complete without food? So, there were plenty of hamantaschen, baked by the Tifereth Israel Sisterhood, for sale.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World, which seeks sponsorships to be placed, as this notice is, just below articles that appear on our site. This is an ideal opportunity for your corporate message or to personally remember a loved one’s contributions to our community. To inquire, call editor Donald H. Harrison at (619) 265-0808 or contact him via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com