A Plea to Actors....

Dear Actor, I am asking
That you have a look at him...
I got it off the internet
The chances they are slim...

That you'd be very happy
Playing such a part
That is a nasty stereotype
From nose, to hands to heart.

If you do a musical
It really has a charm
To spread out all five fingers
And wave around your palm




Bob Fosse made it famous,

You'll see it on that Glee
A chorus line of dancers
All waving like the sea.

Fingers are expressive,
As much as your dear face.
But playing up a cliche
Really isn't ace...


So... Jazz Hands, Jazz Hands are just fine!
Jazz Hands, Jazz Hand are worth all of the hype!
But Jew Hands, Jew Hands, they are so not cool.
Rubbing hands together is  a racist stereotype.

So Shylock is no longer a vicious man and vile....
Fagin isn't played as if he were a paedophile.
I've watched a lot of drama, and I tell you this the truth,
It's possible to bring fresh moves to Fiddler on the Roof.

It's the physical equivalent of ending every line
With the character shouting 'yes'sum' or  'Oy Vey!'
You wouldn't play a rapper kneeling for his mammy

A limp wrist is not enough to make believe 'he's gay!'

Yet still we see them do it, again again again:

Rubbing hands signifies no race, belief or creed
It's not a sign of monotheism or Israeli identity
(Rubbing hands signifies cold fingers or plain greed).



Jew Hands, Jew Hands, I have seen them on them all
From Karl Marx through to Teve, they seem to have a ball...
Actors may be artists but they all seem to do
These gestures with their fingers when they try to play a Jew...