tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13393846.post6547976495106232024..comments2024-03-14T18:52:25.341-07:00Comments on Ill Folks: Herschel Bernardi - The Censored FIDDLER ON THE ROOF songUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13393846.post-3116592848217095902018-07-01T08:22:36.841-07:002018-07-01T08:22:36.841-07:00I knew there was a reason for my loving this album...I knew there was a reason for my loving this album of Herschel Bernardi's. It is daring and prompts the listener to think and understand the plight of the shtetl. As a Christian of possible Marrano background, so far from that experience, it is enlightening to see the questions raised.Cecilio Moraleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283375962527765787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13393846.post-77825506602489084592015-03-30T15:15:32.307-07:002015-03-30T15:15:32.307-07:00My mother had the album when I was a child, and I ...My mother had the album when I was a child, and I did not know that the song had been deleted from the show. All I knew was I loved that song.<br />Knowing where it was to have fit into the show, I can see why it was removed. Honestly, I can't think of anywhere in the play that it would have been appropriate. Even with an intro as suggested by Ill Folks, it wouldn't have fit anywhere but when the villagers were told to pack up, sell out and get out. It was inappropriate at that point due to the sadness and heartbreak of such a demand on them.Jan Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13393846.post-87025563785172114452014-09-10T20:46:26.820-07:002014-09-10T20:46:26.820-07:00I dunno...I'd have liked to see this in the sh...I dunno...I'd have liked to see this in the show. Maybe, as a comedy number, it would have been out of place in the sad scenes preceding the exile...and maybe not. After all, it wasn't fall-down-laughing-holding-your-sides humor, it was laugh-so-you-don't-cry humor, which was very much in keeping with the ending of the show.Jennifer L. Schillighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08685338133114831826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13393846.post-67062639805902589992013-10-30T14:31:54.919-07:002013-10-30T14:31:54.919-07:00Would anyone be so wonderfully kind as to post the...Would anyone be so wonderfully kind as to post the lyrics for this song? I can't find them anywhere or an online recording.. <br />Great post, thanks! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13393846.post-35106910912263780762011-08-21T20:39:07.721-07:002011-08-21T20:39:07.721-07:00I knew Herschel Bernardi my whole life.He was my f...I knew Herschel Bernardi my whole life.He was my father's closest friend as was his brother's Jack ..Boris..Sam and sister Fay.<br />If you love Herschel Bernardi..read the book written by his brother Jack.." My Father The Actor" Herschel was a major star on Broadway in films on television and for humor which he was full of..the voice of Charlie the Tuna. and a loving part of my life.Lois J. Levy Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13393846.post-4855258963718050162010-08-25T17:17:44.506-07:002010-08-25T17:17:44.506-07:00Wow, I didn't know this. Of course it's co...Wow, I didn't know this. Of course it's controversial because it questions the existence of God and/or Jewish faith to a certain degree. Wonderful post, thanks!Andy 7https://www.blogger.com/profile/10212977920568255479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13393846.post-39691672386152385112010-04-03T10:33:41.099-07:002010-04-03T10:33:41.099-07:00Please erase my contact info when you get this, th...Please erase my contact info when you get this, thanks! DaveLoki Singshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214720057072770655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13393846.post-37161024439561998772010-04-02T11:53:49.248-07:002010-04-02T11:53:49.248-07:00Hi Dave,
A valid point. The liner notes simply sa...Hi Dave,<br /><br />A valid point. The liner notes simply say "Mr. Bernardi sings two Harnick and Bock songs not heard in the current production." (The other was an actual song called "Fiddler on the Roof," perhaps overly explaining the premise of the show.) <br /><br />In a 2002 interview with Robert Armin, Sheldon Harnick said, "We were surprised to find that in the context of the show, the song did not work. The reason was that the song occurred at a sad moment when the Jewish villagers were being expelled from their village. And, "When Messiah Comes" is basically a comedy song. The audience was puzzled and disturbed when Tevye sang a song in this sad situation that tried to make them laugh."<br /><br />Harnick sang it himself on a 1993 one-man show album "Evening with Sheldon Harnick," and it turned up, sung badly by Lee Wilkof, on a cheesy CD of cut songs from Broadway shows called "Lost in Boston volume II." <br /><br />A day after I posted the Bernardi tune, it turned up on another blog along with Harnick's quote (which is also easy to find on the Net.) At least they used my original link so I can keep track of the number of hits:<br /><br />http://moicani.over-blog.com/article-when-messiah-comes-la-chanson-censuree-du-violon-sur-le-toit-47673232.html<br /><br />"Censored" might be a little strong but a word Harnick used to describe the audience reaction was "disturbed," and I think the backers felt that anything that could offend the audience needed to be cut (ie, censored). <br /><br />The song could've been placed elsewhere in the show, or prefaced by a line from Tevye saying, "As I think of this terrible pogrom, my Jewish wit and irony kicks in, and I can't help but find something bitterly amusing in all of this..."Ill Folkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08208537275049364194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13393846.post-43368115906562955152010-04-01T20:38:04.625-07:002010-04-01T20:38:04.625-07:00What an amazing blog you have here! Such a wonder...What an amazing blog you have here! Such a wonderful diversity of music. I love every visit to Ill Folks. <br /><br />Songs are cut from musicals all the time for many many reasons. Should this really be referred to as banned or censored? I'm guessing it was likely cut during try-outs for reasons of pace in the show. It's a beautiful song and a great performance from Bernardi, mind you, but I doubt it invoved a conspiracy. ;-)<br /><br />Gut Yontif to alldave g in Phoenixnoreply@blogger.com