I arrived just before midnight the night before Purim, ready for my month's internship with Storahtelling ('Jewish Ritual Theater Revived'). It took me three hours to make my way from Newark airport to where I was staying in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, including half an hour walking through the rain (hmmm... should probably have looked up exactly what subway stop to get off at before flying).
Eight hours later I was at the 6th Street Synagogue downtown Manhattan, being introduced to Storahtelling cast and crew and preparing for my company debut. That night. As Jesus. And Esther. At the same time.
Adorned with long blond wig and and crown of real thorns, easily interchangeable with tiara for when Yeshu becomes Queen of Persia, I paraded up and down the synagogue after the megillah reading. I was, by this time, feeling decidedly ill, but the show must go on. The adrenaline got me through. That and the thought of finishing off the show with a rousing solo rendition of 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life'.
I've since moved to Noho, which is fantastic, and started my work on various Storahtelling shows, getting to know the staff better and being properly introduced to their mission and work - to change the face of Judaism, no less, at least in how people relate to the Torah reading.
But I'm quite certain there'll be nothing quite like that first day.
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