“Oh Calcutta, ” the smash hit American musical banned in Israel because of its nudity and frank sexual content, will open in Tel Aviv on March 26 with the Broadway cast, despite vociferous protests from the religious community and other sectors of the public who find it offensive. The Film and Stage Censorship Board reversed its earlier ban after New York producer Norman Kean agreed to a series of changes and modifications. There will be six cuts in the version to be staged in Israel. The Censorship Board insisted that there be no body contact between dancers at the end of the nude ballet scene. Kean also agreed to dim the lights just before the scene ends. Persons under 18 will not be admitted to the performance.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
