“The Jewish Nutcracker”? Oy Gevalt!
This is one that isn’t being broadcast on Ovation: “The Jewish Nutcracker” opened this week in San Francisco. Katy Alaniz Rous plays the production’s Sufganiyot Fairy. “Usually when people hear about a Jewish ‘Nutcracker,’ they say, ‘How is that Jewish?’ ” says Rous, who also choreographed this unusual production last year. “But you know, the regular ‘Nutcracker’ isn’t really a Christian story; it just takes place at a Christmas party.” I’m trying to parse that statement by saying: “Such-and-so isn’t really a Jewish story; it just takes place at a Hanukkah party.” Or: “Such-and-so isn’t really an African-American story; it just takes place at a Kwanzaa party.” In other words, it’s well and good to adapt the awesome story that is the “Nutcracker.” Just don’t explain it away with absurd logic.
“Such-and-so isn’t really a Jewish story; it just takes place at a Hanukkah party.†From the rebellion of the Maccabees and the miracle of the lamp to the rededication of the Temple being celebrated by Jews from around the world. I don’t know how it could be more Jewish.