The Yiddish King Lear by Jacob Gordin

By Jacob Gordin

The "Yiddish King Lear" by Jacob Gordin. Adapted in English and for the stage by David Serero. The Yiddish King Lear is without a doubt the most famous Yiddish Play of all time that changed Yiddish Theater forever. David Serero made a 1h30 modern adaptation for 6 characters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: World Productions Group
• Release date: May 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9782955012284

Book preview

Notes on the adaptation:

I always have been fascinated by the Yiddish theater that I like to call Jewish Theater. This genre is part of the great American culture. The Yiddish King Lear was the very first Yiddish play I have ever experienced on stage, after performing an operatic version of the Dybbuk, which was the very first opera in Hebrew that I was honored to premiere in Israel.

For the adaptation of this amazing play, I reduced the amount of characters to six (Dovidl, Etele, Gitele, Taybele, Yaffe and Trytel). I used some of the lines from others characters to enrich the ones I kept, making them greater than they already were. I also reduced the whole play to 1h20 for the modern audience. I also worked, rewrote and reshaped the language while keeping the Yiddish theater style. I needed to bring some modernity to the language on that hundred years old play and, I also added some of my jokes (Promised land = Miami..etc). In the version that I presented in New York (2018), I added Yiddish classics and cantorial songs.

I wish you a great reading and long live the Yiddish Theater!

Truly yours,

David Serero

THE YIDDISH KING

by Jacob Gordin

Adapted by David Serero

ACT I

Etele . What time is it? Ah, we didn't hear the clock strike. Our father will soon be arriving for the feast. Trytel! Go and call everyone to come quickly to the table. And whoever else is with them, they should also come to the table.

Tr ytel. [Runs and sings] Neither standing nor flying I go, swiftly like an arrow from a bow.

Gitele. [Looking at the table] Everything seems to be as it should be. Taybele — come and see whether we have forgotten anything. We don't w ant our father, God forbid, to get angry at the table.[Quietly] I am so afraid — because you invited that German of yours.

Taybele. Don't worry, Etele . I will say that I invited him. But you know that I am his beloved little youngest daughter and he permits me everything.

Gitele . Sit down. Sit down quickly at your places.

Trytel. [Frightened] Quiet! Sh! Reb Dovidl our Jewish King Lear is coming.

Dovidl. Gut Yom Tov! Happy Purim! Sit down, all of you. Trytel , go and take out from the bureau the old gold coins and give each children two of the coins. I want the children to have a special souvenir of today. And have them serve the old cherry brandy at the table. For me this Purim is a special Purim because the news that I will be announcing tonight will surprise you all. We'll have a little brandy and something to eat. Children! Do you still remem b er the Oyfn Pripetchyk song that I sang