Maidenhead Pulls Spiel Off

In another thrilling RSY-Netzer Purim Spiel-off competition, Maidenhead claimed outright victory. The fifth annual competition held at Alyth, winners in 2009, saw five teams from Alyth, Finchley Reform, Sinai (Leeds), Wimbledon Reform and Maidenhead compete for the RSY-Netzer Community Cup. This is Maidenheads second win, after triumph at the first Spiel-off back in 2005.

The idea of the competition is that teams spend time in their synagogue preparing a play (comedy or drama, theatre or film) based on the Purim story or its messages, and then compete in a national event hosted by the previous year’s winners. Over 90 participants and leaders stayed overnight at the shul, with a full programme of events and Shabbat services. Kabbalat Shabbat with the community was followed by a sumptuous meal prepared by the Alyth Parents team. After a brief team meeting, the community groups were interspersed for the fun oneg programme organised by Alyth’s young leaders. Shabbat morning saw everyone head off to Hampstead Heath for some fresh air and games and then back for an inspired service run by Ben Jacobs, the RSY-Netzer Rakaz Hadracha (Leadership course coordinator). Lunch was followed by some intense team rehearsals.

The event benefited from the enormous support of Alyth community members, the synagogue teams performed to an audience turn out of well over 150 people. Sinai kicked off with a strong entry based on Harry Potter. Although in this version Harry was a girl called, you guessed it, Esther; and Dumbledore was replaced by a large bearded Mordachai. Sinai won the Best Acting Award. Next up was Maidenhead with a wicked political satire that saw a failing and sleaze ridden Gordon Brown go in to government with the BNP. The winning performance combined a gripping theme, superb acting and the use of film. Maidenhead also won Awards for Best Direction and Best Additional Music/Sounds. The win was of particular delight to them as their much loved Youth Worker Nathan Servi will be finishing shortly. They were followed by Wimbledon, first-timers to the Spiel-off. Theirs was a competent and funny production that fitted mercifully into the time limit! What they lacked in props and staging they made up for in good humoured and talented acting and a sound theme based on Hairspray. They clearly enjoyed themselves and won the Best Newcomers Award for their efforts. During the break we were treated to a spirited performance of the RSY-Netzer Shnat group who sent in a special film from Israel for the occasion. The twist being that rather than face the wrath of Haman, Esther and Mordachai made aliyah! Indicating, as Josh Martin, Mazkir of RSY-Netzer pointed out, that our events in no way indoctrinate children!

After the break, Alyth demonstrated their calibre with the kind of stunning and polished performance that we have come to expect from them. Themed on characters from different fairytales, the play showed excellent attention to detail and had engaging dialogue, especially from the three German pigs who were the king’s courtiers. The quality of their show earned them the Awards for Best Costume. Last on were first-timers FRS, with a unique, robust, boisterous and anarchic production that both delighted and infuriated the crowd, the perfect spiel if you will. Whilst FRS took no prisoners in their style and delivery, or even their choice of words, they were a joy to watch and clearly enjoyed performing.

The net effect of all this, a win for RSY-Netzer who showed once again that they can put on an exciting, enjoyable and well planned event for their communities. A huge well done to all the teams for putting together and performing a Spiel and a massive thank you to Alyth for supporting and hosting RSY-Netzer. See you all in Maidenhead 2011.