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Maidenhead Pulls Spiel Off

Monday, 01 March 2010

Maidenhead Synagogue claimed victory in another thrilling RSY-Netzer Purim Spiel-off. The fifth annual competition held at Alyth, winners in 2009, saw five teams from Alyth, Finchley, Wimbledon, Maidenhead and Sinai in Leeds compete for the RSY-Netzer Community Cup. This is Maidenhead’s second win following their triumph at the first Spiel-off back in 2005.

The Purim Spiel-off features plays (comedy or drama, theatre or film) based on the Purim story or its messages in a national event hosted by the previous year’s winners. Over 90 participants and leaders stayed overnight at the shul prior to the competition with a full programme of events and Shabbat services.

The event benefited from the enormous support of Alyth community members and the synagogue teams performed to an audience of well over 150 people. The Movement’s Youth and Community worker shares his reflections on the evening’s competition:

Sinai kicked off with a strong Harry Potter inspired entry although in this version Harry was a girl called Esther and Dumbledor was replaced by a large bearded Mordechai. Sinai won the Best Acting Award.

Next up was Maidenhead with a wicked political satire that saw Gordon Brown go into government with the BNP. The winning performance combined a gripping theme, superb acting and the use of film. Maidenhead also won awards for Best Direction and Best Additional Music/Sounds. The win was of particular delight to them as their much loved Youth Worker Nathan Servi will soon end his work with the community.

Wimbledon made their Spiel-of debut with a competent and funny production that fitted mercifully into the time limit. What they lacked in props and staging they made up for in good humoured and talented acting and a musical theme based on Hairspray. They clearly enjoyed themselves and won the Best Newcomers Award for their efforts.

During the break we were treated to a spirited performance of the RSY-Netzer Shnat group who sent in a special film from Israel for the occasion. The twist being that rather than facing the wrath of Haman, Esther and Mordechai made aliyah. Josh Martin, Mazkir of RSY-Netzer pointed out that our events in no way indoctrinate children!

Alyth then delivered the kind of stunning and polished performance that we have come to expect from them. Themed on characters from different fairy tales, the play showed excellent attention to detail and had engaging dialogue, especially from the three pigs who were the king’s courtiers. The quality of the show earned them the Awards for Best Costume.

Last on were first-timers FRS with a unique, robust, boisterous and anarchic production that both delighted and infuriated the crowd, the perfect spiel in fact. Whilst FRS took no prisoners in their style and delivery, or even their choice of words, they were a joy to watch and clearly enjoyed performing.

The net effect of all this was a win for RSY-Netzer, once again showing that they can put on an exciting, enjoyable and well planned event for their communities. A huge well done to all the teams for putting together and performing a Spiel and a massive thank you to Alyth for supporting and hosting RSY-Netzer. See you all in Maidenhead 2011.

Picture: Nathan Servi.