Fiddler on the Roof, by Jerry Bock
What have Abraham, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Tevye in 'Fiddler on the Roof' and a bit of Polish history got to do with Faith and the Resurrection?
Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo
One day when Jesus saw a woman 'bent over' and 'quite unable to stand up straight' he called her over, laid his hands on her and freed her from her ailment, whereupon the woman immediately 'stood up straight and began praising God.' (Luke 13:12-13). If we see her as a symbol of a broken society, alongside Les Misérables, Hugo's masterpiece may emerge in a new light and so too may the gospel. A reflection for Christmas, Easter or Christian Aid Week.
Helen Leneman, an independent scholar and cantor, suggests more attention might be given to music as midrash in order to penetrate other layers of the narrative and to see what further insights can be brought to the story and to the interpretation, inviting scholars to address the sort of questions rarely addressed by biblical scholars and preachers but which have to be tackled when adapting a story for the stage. 'Ruth in ‘CATS’ Eyes' describes one experiment with the idea with a group of students in Prague.