Shlemiel the First

Robert Brustein recreates one of the great stories of Chelm, the village of fools, as a klezmer musical full of slapstick comedy and zany characters. The council of Chelm decides to appoint Shlemiel, a sexton in a synagogue, to spread its dubious wisdom to another town. Tricked by the mischievous Chaim Rascal into retracing his steps, Shlemiel thinks he has discovered a duplicate Chelm and another Ms. Shlemiel. His comic misadventures continue as he commits adultery with his wife and tries to convince the council that there are two Shlemiels! Shlemiel the First is presented as a staged concert reading.