Selections from “Di Megile Fun Itsik Manger”
In 1936, the Yiddish writer Itzik Manger published his brilliant Megile Lider (Megile Poems). The poem cycle updates the Story of Esther, setting it in Eastern Europe, and even adding some tailors into the mix. Thirty years later, a musical version of Megile Lider was created, with beautiful music by Dov Seltzer.
In these five songs from the musical, we hear how Mordechai squeals to the cops, we hear Vashti’s final lament, and we hear how a young tailor, Fastrigosse, was in love with Esther before she went off to be with the king. We hear the king savor life after an assassination attempt by Fastrigosse, for which Fastrigosse is executed. And we hear Fastrigosse’s mother as she lights a yortsayt candle for her son.
Featuring Judy Sweet on piano, Harry Sweet on mandolin, and vocalists Noah Guthman, Judy Sweet, Noah Mitchel, Zackary Sholem Berger, and Miriam Avins. Produced, directed, and edited by Noah Mitchel and Judy Sweet.
Listen to the original cast recording of Di Megile Fun Itsik Manger in the Yiddish Book Center’s Frances Brandt Online Yiddish Audio Library: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/col…