The world of Sholom Aleichem 1959 - Three sweet adaptations from classic Yiddish literature
Director: Don Richardson
Main Cast: Zero Mostel, Gertrude Berg, Conrad Bromberg, Jack Gilford, Lee Grant
"Many people are familiar with the name of the Russian-born, Yiddish-language writer Sholom Aleichem (1859-1916), but today he is primarily recognized as the literary source that inspired the beloved musical Fiddler on the Roof. However, not too many people have actually read his stories, which detail the trials and tribulations of the Jewish communities in Czarist Russia.
In 1953, American playwright Arnold Perl sought to capture the spirit of Sholom Aleichem by creating an Off-Broadway play. The World of Sholem Aleichem was actually a bit of a cheat, since only one of its three acts was directly based on an Aleichem story. Nonetheless, the work offered a vibrant celebration of the author’s spirit.
In 1959, producer David Susskind arranged for Perl to adapt his work for broadcast on the weekly television series Play of the Week. This production of The World of Sholom Aleichem was remarkable at several levels, and by contemporary standards it remains a landmark of sorts."
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