The Broadway is not. The “National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene” lies about seven kilometers south of New York’s theater district, on the southern tip of Manhattan in a Holocaust museum and has a rather small stage.
But for “Harmony,” a musical by musician Barry Manilow about the history of the Comedian Harmonists, the frame and context fit.
For decades Manilow, who else is better known for schmaltzy hits like “Mandy” and “Can not Smile Without You”, is working on the musical. 1997 was celebrated in California premiere, had been listed later in Atlanta and Los Angeles, and should now be already be seen in New York, however, the corona pandemic moved the project further and further back.
Spectators must wear a mask
The pandemic continues, all visitors must present a vaccination detection and face shield and a Corona infection even prevented the visit of Manilow himself at the premiere – but the play is now running in New York and is still until May 8 to be seen “Put on a protective mask and watch the show!” Manilow urged his fans.
Written by Manilow in collaboration with Bruce Sussman, “Harmony: A New Musical” tells the story of the legendary German vocal group Comedian Harmonists. It begins with a performance by the six members of the German-Jewish a capella ensembles in New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1933, then goes back and tells the story of the group of the emergence in the 1920s on.
It turns the piece, the question: What if the band after the performance at Carnegie Hall did not go back to Germany, but would have remained in the US? Would it then have been possible to have a long world career alongside star diva Josephine Baker? A corresponding music contribution remains a dream. The members decided to return to Germany, where the National Socialists soon banned them from performing together. Some band members fled abroad, all survived the Nazi era. The last founding member, Roman Cycowski – who serves as narrator in the play, played by Chip Zien – died in California in 1998.
slapstick-komik
The story of the Comedian Harmonists fascinated millions of people worldwide to date – and has been widely used in books, films and stage plays processed. In Germany, the film “Comedian Harmonists” by Joseph Vilsmeier from the year 1997 celebrated successes. Also known from classics like “My Little Green Cactus” or “Veronica, Spring Has Arrived” have viewers of Manilow musical refrain – the German wit translates into English not so easy. Instead Manilow works more with acrobatic slapstick comedy and leaves the comedians singing dish throwing or jumping around wildly.
This is well received by many viewers, the piece is usually sold out and is celebrated with standing ovations. The “New York Times” also spoke of a “not perfect” but “very touching show”. (dpa)