The Three Wishes

Adapted by Aubrey Davis from a traditional folktale, and backed with a lively Klezmer soundtrack by the group Beyond the Pale, Sheldon Cohen's The Three Wishes tells the story of a poor junk peddler named Koppel, who happens upon a talking meat grinder that promises him a trio of wishes. Back home, Koppel's wife Yetta expresses her desire to be young and beautiful again, as well as to live in a golden palace, but Koppel wishes for a nice piece of kishke (stuffed sheep guts), which magically appears on the table. Infuriated at the waste of a wish, Yetta suggests that the kishke should stick to Koppel's nose, which it promptly does, giving him a rather unflattering elephantine appearance. With one wish left, will the couple choose wisely? An entertaining parable about being careful of what you wish for, The Three Wishes is recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)