Andy Nyman on saying "F-You" to Hitler on stage

It's the end of summer, and Yonit and Jonathan are taking a break from the news with a nugget of pure Jewish joy. Andy Nyman — the West End actor, writer, director and magician currently starring as Max Bialystock in The Producers, and previously as an acclaimed Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof — joins the show for an Unholy Conversation. Why does Mel Brooks' nearly-60-year-old joke about Hitler still land? What makes Max Bialystock - who could have been Tevye’s grandson - so beloved, even in his desperation? And is the Broadway musical, as a form, secretly a Jewish one? Andy answers the question by giving a rare performance of a musical classic — rendered in Yiddish. You won’t want to miss it.

In this episode:

The Genius of Mel Brooks: How The Producers transforms satire into an act of healing and an uncompromising "fuck you" to history.

From Tevye to Bialystock: Exploring the thread connecting the working-class milkman of Anatevka to the scheming, desperate, yet deeply human Broadway hustler.

Art in Times of Darkness: A rare behind-the-scenes look at performing comedic Jewish art—and deciding to keep a daring scene in the show—in the wake of global tragedy.

Exclusive Live Performances: Andy delivers three bespoke, stripped-back performances directly in the studio:

"We Can Do It" (The Producers)

"If I Were a Rich Man" (Fiddler on the Roof)

A haunting, tender Yiddish translation of "Hushabye Mountain" (originally by the Sherman Brothers).

00:06 Introduction to Unholy Conversations

00:09 Introduction to Andy Nyman

01:57 The Enduring Appeal of The Producers

05:50 Mel Brooks and Jewish Healing through Humor

08:29 Defiance in Comedy: Pulling Down Pants

09:59 Exploring Max Bialystok's Character

17:30 Max Bialystok and Tevye: A Generational Connection

18:23 The Complexity of Tevye

22:58 The Essence of Fiddler on the Roof

30:44 The Current Jewish Climate

35:40 The Jewish Influence in Musical Theatre

42:32 A Yiddish Lullaby: Bridging Cultures

44:24 The Importance of Representation

44:25 Personal Connections and Impact

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