Disney or Der Stürmer? The House of Mouse's Anti-Semitic Caricature
The Broadway Maven (David Benkof) interprets Broadway
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Shalom!
This week, the Broadway Maven Looks at Disney’s Jews:
• The Thursday, February 4 class will look at the singer-songwriters who made The Mouse sing. Jews wrote Disney songs for movies, theme parks, and television programs ranging from “Bippety-Boppety Boo” to “It’s a Small World” to “Part of Your World” to “Colors of the Wind” to “That’s How You Know.” We’ll look at some clips and discuss their music and impact.
• I’ve uploaded a video to my YouTube channel with brief clips from more than a dozen Disney songs written by Jewish songwriters and songwriting teams.
• This Weekly Blast examines a possible anti-Semitic stereotype in a Disney Renaissance film; RANTS about stars who abandon the stage for the screen; RAVES about 2017’s Groundhog Day, the most under-appreciated musical of the 21st century (including a video of the original stars of that show singing one of its best numbers); and links to David’s newest video, a quiz to measure Broadway knowledge.
Check out these cartoons:
On the left, a cartoon from Der Stürmer, the 1930s Nazi publication that trafficked in anti-Semitic tropes and images. On the right, Monsieur D’arque (“dark,” get it?), a minor antagonist in Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s Beauty and the Beast. Gaston offers to pay D’arque (who runs the neighborhood lunatic asylum) to threaten to take Belle’s father away unless she agrees to marry Gaston.
Leave aside the crooked nose and the desire to despoil virginal girls (an anti-Semitic theme). Why is D’arque examining a gold coin, rubbing it against his face, squeezing it in his fist? Surely nobody in Burbank drew this guy’s schnoz and thought “needs a gold coin,” right?
An internet search found very little discussion of what to me seems an obvious comparison. (Not that it would be the first example of Disney stereotypes!)
Sign up for Thursday’s “Disney’s Jews” class here.
Watch this video reel with clips of Disney songs written by Jewish songwriters. Ask yourself: what attribute do Disney songs share in common (more or less)?
Then, put your answers below the video on YouTube.
Warning: I’m feeling curmudgeonly.
My blood boils (and I’m not the only Broadwaynik for whom this is true) whenever one of “our” performers takes a television job. I know, how dare I claim ownership over Ben Platt, Matthew Morrison, or Audra McDonald? They make more money and may be happier (doubt it) on “The Politician,” “GLEE”; and “The Good Fight.”
But those performers (among others) bring such joy to so many of us with their stage personas and singing abilities that every moment they’re doing something OTHER than Broadway, the whole art form is (unintentionally) diminished.
Of course, this is hardly a new problem. (See under: Lansbury, Angela in Murder, She Wrote). One fun way Hollywood has dealt with the situation is by finding ways for Broadway talent to sing on these shows. An unusual number of scenes in shows with great singers take place in karaoke bars, or with parents singing lullabies to their babies.
(Not good enough!)
Happy February 2!
The most under-appreciated musical of the 21st century is Tim Minchin’s 2017 Groundhog Day. The composer/lyricist, who also created the sparkling Matilda (2013), made one of the most under-appreciated (at first) films of the late 20th century sparkle on stage, too.
The show – about Phil, a weatherman forced to re-live Groundhog Day over and over during a blizzard in a small town – has remarkably creative staging, leaving theatergoers pondering how quickly the star (played on Broadway by a hunky but nuanced Andy Karl) could be whisked to his bedroom from anywhere on stage.
The music is stirring and heartfelt, especially two downbeat second-act numbers:
• “Playing Nancy,” by a woman Phil sleeps with, leading her to bemoan being valued for her looks; and
• “Night Will Come,” by nebbishy insurance salesman Ned, musing on his loss after the death of his wife.
Other gems, mostly from the remarkable Second Act: “There Will Be Sun,” “Hope,” “Seeing You,” and “If I Had My Time Again” (see below.)
Enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy…
For fun last week, I cobbled together a contest video in which I give a one-sentence summary, and you have to identify the show. How many out of 50 will you get right?
Want to simplify things and gain access to great extra content? A $59 First Semester 2021 All-Access Pass gets you admission to all classes free or paid, including those that are full, plus a weekly Jewish Culture Spotlight and admission to exclusive bonus monthly classes. Tentatively planned all-new bonus classes include “The Wizard of Oz,” “MORE Sondheim’s Lyrics,” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” Register: bitly.com/BenkofFirst
Videos to Check Out:
One-minute video introduction to the course (please share widely!)
“Broadway Maven” playlist at YouTube
David Benkof’s YouTube channel
Calendar:
Important note: Mondays in March will fill up. Only 1,000 FREE tickets are available each week, and based on January I can tell you they will be all gone by the end of February. So please sign up now!
Thursday, February 4 Disney’s Jews (Noon ET, with special guests)
Thursday, February 11 Voice Actors (Noon ET)
Wednesday, February 17 Mel Brooks parts one AND two (8 to 10 pm ET)
Thursday, February 18 Roy Lichtenstein (Noon ET)
Tuesday, February 23 The Wizard of Oz (Noon ET, ALL-ACCESS Passholders ONLY)
Wednesday, February 24 Rodgers & Hammerstein 101 (8 pm ET)
Thursday, February 25 Schoolhouse Rock (Noon ET)
Monday, March 1 A Chorus Line (Noon and 8 pm ET)
Wednesday, March 3 West Side Story (8 pm, sign-ups soon)
Monday, March 8 Mary Poppins (with special guests, Noon and 8 pm ET)
Wednesday, March 10 Into the Woods (8 pm, sign-ups soon)
Monday, March 15 Contemporary Jewish Broadway (Noon and 8 pm ET)
Thursday, March 18 Sondheim’s Lyrics (Noon ET, sign-ups soon)
Monday, March 22 Avenue Q (Noon and 8 pm ET)
Wednesday, March 24 MORE Sondheim’s Lyrics (Noon, ALL-ACCESS Passholders ONLY)
Thursday, March 25 Cabaret (Noon ET, sign-ups soon)
Monday, March 29 Chicago (Noon and 8 pm ET)
-David Benkof, The Broadway Maven
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