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PURIM SHPIEL - JRC PURIM PARODY PRODUCTIONS © 2008 Jordan Margolis Jordan Margolis is the founder of JRC Purim Parody Productions. Created in 1996, these full length Broadway Parodies have been produced as Fundraisers and Spiritraisers for the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation of Evanston, Illinois. Jordan is the sole playwright, co-produces and acts in each wacky musical comedy - almost exclusively playing some version of the evil villain Haman (known by many other names and identities, and eliminated differently in each show as a threat to the Jewish community). The one exception so far was in "MISS SHUSHAN", where Jordan played Esther and was coronated as the first Jewish drag queen. JRC Purim Parody Productions is co-produced and directed by the talented and indefatiguable Judy Holstein. The other extremely gifted Principals of this extraordinary community theatre company are Assistant Director/Choreographer Angela Allyn; Costume Designer Paulette Herbstmann; Set Designer Rebecca Hamlin; and Musical Directors David Mannowitz and/or John W. Cooley. (Jack Cooley is also Jordan's Musical Collaborator on their commercial venture "SHOES, AN ORIGINAL COMICAL MUSICAL".) JRC Purim Parody Productions involve up to 150 actors, crew and production volunteers. These spectacles have grown too large to fit in the congregation's space, and are now performed on other stages at larger venues in Evanston. Jordan's Purim Shpiel Scripts are available for purchase by any synagogue willing to donate $180 to JRC Purim Parody Productions. Click here to download the request form. For a history of the development of the Purim Spiel, CLICK HERE. COMING THIS SPRING - The Eighth Wonder of The World! Jordan's Eighth Purim Shpiel Will Leave Audiences Wondering "Why Did I Pay To See This?" JRC PURIM PARODY PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS, THE WORLD PREMIERE PERFORMANCES OF, A Play Banned In Mesopotamia; A Play Truly Debased On A Legend; A Play Not To Be Mythed! "haMAN OF FAKACHTA, The Implausible Shpiel" by Jordan Margolis Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 8 PM; Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 2 PM and 6 PM JRC (Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation of Evanston) 303 Dodge, Evanston, IL (847) 328-7678 
Plotz Summary This is a parody of a play within a play (or, as some might say, a travesty of a mockery of a sham). Jordan Margolis is thrown in the JRC Dungeon to stand trial before the Reconstructionist Federation for his heretical Purim Shpiels. His fellow prisoner/transgressors, however, put him on trial first, and he defends himself using the a new manuscript for his next Shpiel. The play within the play (or the shpiel within the shpiel, if you’re still following this Plotz Summary), sets the Jews hiding in the Persian countryside, not knowing that Haman’s maniacal new plot is to just leave the Jews alone to bicker amongst themselves. Havoc ensues when jorDON al Ha Kippot rides into their lives with his trusty scribe, Saychel Pu ppik, and new traditions are born out of the chaos, involving a very special Wind Mill. 
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PAST JRC PURIM PARODY PRODUCTIONS ""GOYS AND KABBALAH, PLUCK ME A ZADIE" Book and Lyrics by Jordan Margolis © 2005 PLOTZ SUMMARY Haman schemes to annihilate the Jews by becoming the head of a Kabbalah Center, attracting fugitive gamblers and gypsies who are being pursued by Lt. Bydabook. As Rav Vishnu Vergon, he first orders a Mass Intermarriage Wedding, to be followed by the Jewish grooms testing immortality (by putting red nooses around their necks), so that their inheritance would go to Persia. Esther infiltrates the Kabbalah Center as Madonna, and saves the Jews by the spin of a Dredyl (and some help from an unlikely source). "So What the Heck is Kabbalah, Anyway?" |
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JORDAN SCORES ANOTHER CHICAGO DOUBLE "CAMELPLOTZ! BEHIND THE LEGEND, THE REIL SHPIEL" KING ARTHERVERUS AND THE MEESKITES OF THE TRIANGULAR TABLE (...one brief conniving moment) Book and Lyrics by Jordan Margolis © 2003 PLOTZ SUMMARY King Arthurverus (ORT), guided by Moilyn the Magician, strives to create a more civil kingdom. On the advice of Mordrek of Hamanjoshin, the High Jinks Minister, he establishes the Meeskites of the Triangular Table, and bans Jews from wearing crests (like the offensive double triangle Star of David). With the help of Scamalot, a lovable con-artist, Queen Gettashmear (Esther), who got her nickname because she loves bagels and cream cheese, wins the Jesting Tournament against Mordrek and saves the Jews from peril.       > CLICK ON PICTURES FOR LARGER VIEW |
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"LES MISHUGENABLES, Une Parodie De Purim A Paris" Book and Lyrics by Jordan Margolis © 2001 PLOTZ SUMMARY King Leroy of Persia learns that Esther, whom he calls Fondue, has a child living in France. Outraged, he publicly banishes her but later relents in private. Hot-tempered Esther then enrages King Leroy so much that he grants Inspector Hotair's (Haman's) request to destroy the Jews. Jean valThong (Mordecai), a struggling fashion designer wannabe, leads the Jewish escape to Paris where they create a financial empire. Eventually, old nemeses join with new enemies to pose another peril, but the Jews are saved by a most unusual Miracle (a Miracle Bra which Jean valThong designs for Queen Tooloose of France).       > CLICK ON PICTURES FOR LARGER VIEW |
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"WEST SIDE TSORYS, The Purim Prequel" Book and Lyrics by Jordan Margolis © 1999 PLOTZ SUMMARY Here Come the Zets! West Side Tsorys is the Purim Prequel because it re-writes the story of Esther before she was old enough to have a book agent. The characters of Purim are presented as teenagers, to uncover their psychological and sociological motivations. We finally learn what made Haman so mad at the Jews. (Hint: It's always about a girl.) Child actors play the parents of the adult actors' teenage characters. The Zets square off against Haman's gang, the Shtoonks. Haman plans to desecrate the JCC and synagogue with graffiti, but his plot is foiled and he's sent off to Triangle Military Academy.       > CLICK ON PICTURES FOR LARGER VIEW |
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"BALLY CHAI, Meisahs From The South Megilla" Book and Lyrics by Jordan Margolis © 1998 PLOTZ SUMMARY This play starts where the Book of Esther usually ends, with Haman's hanging. But the gallows were rigged, so Kamannawannapoopoo (Haman) tricks the Jews to exile themselves from Shushan to Bally Chai- a fantasy fitness island (because Jews will go anywhere for a deal, especially if it has a beach). And although Prince Ahakakafachta is sent by his father to keep an eye on Haman, after he suffers some enchanted bee sting, his eyes become fixed on Esther the Beach Ranger. Eventually, Haman is fed into the volcano instead of the Jews.  
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"LITTLE SCHNAPPS FOR SCHNORRERS" Book and Lyrics by Jordan Margolis © 1997 PLOTZ SUMMARY The King's parents banish Prince Aha from the palace, because of his girly interests including plants. Mordecai takes the Prince into his stewardship in his store and gives him the name, Sneezemore. Esther, who also works in the store and is victimized by her sadistic dentist boyfriend, falls for Sneezemore. An extraterrestrial man-eating plant, Haplant, eats the dentist and develops a taste for the Jewish People. Ultimately, Haplant is fed into a Juiceman blender and the Jews are saved.       > CLICK ON PICTURES FOR LARGER VIEW |
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"MISS SHUSHAN" Book and Lyrics by Jordan Margolis © 1996 PLOTZ SUMMARY Ezra bets his cousin Mordecai that he can win a beauty pageant, so he dresses up as Esther. The King falls madly in love with "Esther" who has two secrets to keep from him; one, that she's Jewish and secondly, that he's a she. Eventually, it all straightens out when Haman turns out to be a woman (you think only Yentl knows how to get ahead by cross- dressing?) and is sent away by Kvellicopter.       > CLICK ON PICTURES FOR LARGER VIEW |
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