The cast
enjoys the
celebration
at the end
of the play.
Children's Purim spiel returns to Beth Shalom in full force.
Joe Lewis coaches Max Lanzkron-
Tamarazo in role as King Ahasuerus.
Bobbie Lewis
Special to the Jewish News
C
ongregation Beth Shalom's recep-
tion hall was a scene of organized
chaos. In one corner of a "stage"
marked off with masking tape, a bevy of
"Single Belles" rehearsed how they would
primp for their presentation to the king.
A dozen other children tried on costumes
and practiced their lines.
After a hiatus of 16 years, the children's
Purim spiel, directed by the irreverent Dr.
Joe Lewis, is returning to Beth Shalom in
Oak Park. Lewis' Purim spiel, Sushan Sit
Down, originally produced at Beth Shalom
in 1989, will be presented on Purim,
Sunday, Feb. 24. The play will follow the
regular 5 p.m. evening service. After the
play, a simple Purim seudah (meal) will
be served. Purim recalls the deliverance of
the Jewish people from the wicked Haman
in the days of Queen Esther of Persia.
For five years, the Purim plays were an
highlight of the Beth Shalom calendar.
"We started doing the Purim spiels
when my oldest child, Miriam, who is now
34, was in sixth grade and interested in
acting:' said Lewis of Oak Park. "She talk-
ed me into writing and directing a play:'
Lewis is a community educator who
describes himself as chief poet of the Singlish
Publication Society. The first play went over
so well that he continued to write and direct
Purim plays for the next four years.
The highly irreverent plays include
parodies of well-known songs. King
Ahasuerus' big song to the tune of Gilbert
and Sullivan's "Major General" song, pro-
claims him to be "the very model of an
ancient Eastern potentate:'
After Sushan Sit Down, Lewis produced
The Sushan Boys, Mordechai Mendoza,
Haman's Magic Powder and The Joy of Sects.
A sixth play, Jewrassic Park, was never
produced, but is included in Lewis' book,
40
February 21 • 2013
JN
Rehearsing the banquet scene are Leah Sugarman, 12, of Huntington Woods as
Esther; Max Lanzkron-Tamarazo, 12, of Ferndale as King Ahasuerus; and Justin
Brown, 9, of Huntington Woods as Haman.
How to Present a Purim Play. The book,
which includes tips for adults working with
children on Purim spiels, suggestions for
making costumes inexpensively and easily,
and scripts for six original plays, is available
for $14.95 from the Singlish Publication
Society (www.singlishps.com ).
"Purim is the perfect time to do a chil-
dren's play:' said Lewis. "It's not Shabbat
or a holiday, so there are no restrictions
on carrying, playing music or using elec-
tricity. People wear costumes, and they're
ready to have fun."
The casts of the first Purim spiel were
the Lewis children and their friends. Every
year, more children wanted to participate.
This year, Lewis recruited actors who attend
Beth Shalom's religious school, Gan Shalom
Preschool and Hillel Day School. The cast
started rehearsing in mid-January.
The lead actors include Leah Sugarman,
12, of Huntington Woods as Esther; Aaron
Sugarman, 10, of Huntington Woods as
Mordechai; Max Lanzkron-Tamarazo, 12,
Liat Lerner, 5, and Lily Citrin, 8, both of
Huntington Woods, work on the scenery.
of Ferndale as King Ahasuerus; and Justin
Brown, 9, of Huntington Woods as Haman.
More than a dozen adults are helping
Lewis with the production, including
Howard Fridson of Huntington Woods;
who is doing scenery; Vicki Salinger of
Southfield, who is making costumes; and
Marie Slotnick of Pleasant Ridge, who
is handling props. Former teachers Jan
Wanetick of Southfield and Doris Schey
of Huntington Woods are coaching the
actors, and David Rogers of Huntington
Woods serves as music coach.
The cast includes more than 40 chil-
dren ranging in age from 4 months to 12
years.
❑
Bobbie Lewis is a member of Congregation
Shira Ellis, 9, of Huntington Woods, who
plays Haman's wife, strikes a pose.
Beth Shalom and the wife of Dr. Joe Lewis.
Sushan Sit Down will be presented at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24, at
Congregation Beth Shalom, 14601 W. Lincoln, in Oak Park. Admission is free.
For more information, call the synagogue office at (248) 547-7970.