NPR: Singer-songwriter Jill Sobule is probably best known for her 1995 hit single, "I Kissed a Girl." These days, she's taking on a new musical project: the gender-bending play by Isaac Bashevis Singer, Yentl. Barbra Streisand turned Singer's play into her 1984 hit movie musical of the same name. Although Sobule's version features music, it's a little more Singer and a little less Streisand.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
New Staging Of 'Yentl' Tells A Transgender Story
NPR: Singer-songwriter Jill Sobule is probably best known for her 1995 hit single, "I Kissed a Girl." These days, she's taking on a new musical project: the gender-bending play by Isaac Bashevis Singer, Yentl. Barbra Streisand turned Singer's play into her 1984 hit movie musical of the same name. Although Sobule's version features music, it's a little more Singer and a little less Streisand.
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4 comments:
I would be fascinated to see this staging of Yentl. Sometimes when popular works are reinterpreted and re-staged, I feel that the production is trying to be so drastically different from the original, that the story and characters feel forced and the essence of the work is lost. I don't think that will be the case with this production. Only being familiar with the film starring Streissand, this seems like such a different interpretation, yet it makes sense and seems like it will work well. I would love to see what they do with it.
when I was younger my mother would try to get me to watch Streissand's Yentl quite frequently and I always refused. When I finally agreed I was so angry at myself for missing out on it that whole time. I love Yentl now and would also be fascinated to see a stage production. I was unaware that there was a play before the movie. I dont know how I would feel about this new version because I am so attached to the original version I saw, but Im willing to give it a chance.
I think it's now somewhat obligatory that at least one of my blog comments has something to do with gender-equality or sexual-orientation-equality or gender-identity, so I will take this as the opportunity to do so.
I know that the movie Yentl is met with mixed opinons, but as a Barbra Streisand fan, I've always thought it was brilliant. (I even liked Glee's rendition of Papa Can You Hear Me? - Don't judge.)
As this article mentions, the Barbra Streisand production had a very feminist message, which I think its a totally valid, interesting way to present the story. However, I am excited to see this story produced in a way that suggests that Yentl is transgender. I think that the text provides evidence for either arguement. "You have the soul of a man and the body of a woman," could suggest that Yentl really identifies as a man, or it could just suggest that Yentl's father perceives her as an intellectual equal (considering that the orthodox-Jewish community is quite patriarchal).
The only fault I can find is that even though Sobule claims that Yentl is a man, she refers to the character several times by feminine pronouns.
This seems like a great way to make Yentl speak on today's issues. What's most important is that controversial/sensitive issues such as this are handled with care and respect, and it seems as though Sobule has done this. What I really apprecaite is that this version is staying more true to the book. I'm all for creative, new ways to tell the same story, but I'm not always a fan of when people change the original so that it has a different story or message. The idea of using a greek chorus is a bit confusing to me...I have never really seen a modern play done in such a way. I know people have made it work in the past, though, and I'm sure this is a great way for commentary to be added onto the characters' dialogue. I hope that this version of Yentl makes it past Sarasota, FL someday so that more people can see it!
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