‘The Jewish Legacy: A Night at the Musicals’ The Carriageworks Theatre, Wednesday 2nd July, 2014, reviewed by Evangaline Spachis …
When it comes to Musical Theatre, sometimes the clichés are true. If The Jewish Legacy: A Night at the Musicals is anything to go by, Broadway really has been brought to life predominately by Jewish composers and songwriters during the last one-hundred years. Produced, written and starring Leon Trayman, The Jewish Legacy is a fond melodious romp through the countless songs and productions penned by the likes of Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hammerstein and George Gershwin, right through to Stephen Sondheim amongst others.
As part of the Leeds JFest International, the Jewish Festival which celebrates the best Jewish stage and music talents working today, it seemed only natural to close the festival with a glamorous showcase of the songs which have permeated into the pantheon of cinema and theatre’s greatest music. A cast of four performers (including Leon Trayman) delivered a stripped down and yet impactful set of favourite tunes across the ages, interpreted by minimalist musical accompaniments and little to no props or staging. Between each seamless medley or solo performance (at which Emily Bull was particularly impressive especially during the showstopper ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’) spoken monologues ‘set the scenes’, highlighting the tragic circumstances from which many beloved songwriters had escaped from. Forced migration across the early 20th century brought about a mass exodus to America and the West and so along with it, a wave of musical flair and composing genius. Settling in the inner-city boroughs of New York, musicals such as West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz, South Pacific, The King and I, and of course Fiddler on the Roof were created. The golden age of Broadway was born.
There was plenty of warm Jewish humour to amuse the intimate audience at The Carriageworks Theatre (for those non-Hebrew-speaking Gentiles of the crowd such as myself, I giggled inanely at the remark that Eric Idle’s ‘Spamlot’ would not be considered ‘Kosher’). The obligatory ‘Fiddler’ medley was expertly included, as well as Bob Fosse-inspired routines for the closing numbers reinforced the intimate cabaret show atmosphere. A fitting finale to the International Jewish Performing Arts Festival for 2014, proving there’s certainly no business like show business!