Omar Sharif?!

[Tim Barstow]

I don’t understand why there’s a whole song about him in the band’s visit! Will someone please explain what the song is about?

[msmp]

I thought this was a pretty good explainer: http://www.vulture.com/2018/05/the-making-of-the-bands-visits-omar-sharif-song.html

[GeorgeandDot]

She sings about how she used to fantasize about Egyptian culture and formed a romantic idea of it. In the song she begins to realize that she holds feelings for Tewfiq. At least that's what I feel like the song means.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

This is going to sound meaner than I truly intend, but I cannot believe it's that hard for some people to grasp. I mean I figured out what the song was about even I first heard it out-of-context when I saw a video of Katrina Lenk and Tony Shaloub doing the number.

[A0326T]

Omar Sharif is a well known Egyptian actor. The band is from Egypt. Dina is from Israel. Two different people of two different countries. But they both know Omar Sharif. Connection. Appreciation. Introduction . Sharing common interest through movies.

I grew up from Manila learning English by listening to recording of Brigadoon by our 4th grade teacher. We enunciate the English words .."the heather on the hill." We don't know and have heather in the tropics but we loved the sound of it.

We learn cultures and we agree on same things thru the arts. Universal.

[dramamama611]

It's not about him.  It's about what he (and Uum Kulthum) did for her, what they meant to her.

 

But you're not alone.

[Kad]

Why is there a song about keys in Fun Home?!

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Why is Evan Hansen waving through a window?

[gypsy101]

Kad said: "Why is there a song about keys in Fun Home?! "

this made me laugh bitch

[Dancingthrulife2]

I think a song should be understood through action. In other words, why does the character sing the song and what is the character trying to achieve. Indeed, Dina is singing how Omar Sharif and Umm Kulthum influenced her in her childhood in that scene, but really she's trying to connect with Tewfiq, by sharing experiences that he can relate to. As every action has an reaction, through the song, she also comes to realize there's a part of her longing for Tewfiq, or at least what he represents.

[BroadwayConcierge]

I don't think it's a song about her trying to connect with Tewfiq. I think it's simply a song about a wave of powerful memories return to her after so long. Something about her conversation with Tewfiq brings back her childhood; Egyptian celebrities on her Israeli radio and TV set, "floating in on a jasmine wind." Memories with her mother. The entire song is her emotional journey and rediscovery of these memories which I'm sure she's spent years forgetting after her bitter divorce and dull life in Bet Hatikvah. 

I think it's only in the final line of "Omar Sharif" when Dina realizes that everything she just rediscovered was because of Tewfiq. It's that moment when she realizes that he is stirring something within her that she can't yet place. Later, in "Something Different," she literally asks (in reference to Tewfiq), "Is this my Omar Sharif?"

To put it more simply, Dina's recollections of Omar Sharif and Umm Kulthum are the tangible memories that flood back in her mind during her evening with Tewfiq. If not for that fateful night, she may never have recalled them again.

[msmp]

BroadwayConcierge said: "I don't think it's a song about her trying to connect with Tewfiq. I think it's simply a song about a wave of powerfulmemories return to her after so long. Something about her conversation with Tewfiqbrings back her childhood;Egyptian celebrities on her Israeli radio and TV set, "floating in on a jasmine wind." Memories with her mother. The entire song is her emotional journey and rediscovery of these memories which I'm sure she's spent years forgettingafter her bitter divorce and dull life in Bet Hatikvah.

I think it's onlyin the final line of "Omar Sharif"when Dina realizes that everything she just rediscovered was because of Tewfiq. It's that moment when she realizes that he is stirring something within her that she can't yet place. Later, in "Something Different," she literally asks (in reference to Tewfiq), "Is thismyOmar Sharif?"

To put it more simply, Dina's recollections of Omar Sharif and Umm Kulthum are the tangible memories that flood back in her mind during her evening with Tewfiq. If not for that fateful night, she may never have recalled them again."

For what it's worth, this is where I am on the song as well. Where Proust had the scent of the madeleine to trigger memory, Dina's exposure to an Egyptian (Tewfiq) revived her memories of Omar Sharif and the meaning that his movies had on her earlier in her live. Without meeting him, those memories might have remained locked away somewhere. In recalling those memories, however, she finds herself able to recognize that she has some kind of connection with the man whose entrance into her life unlocked them.

[QueenAlice]

I think the theme of the show is that life is made up of seemingly mundane moments of interaction; but it is precisely those moments that subtly impact, persuade, change, guide and move us. The song perfectly illustrates how this simple conversation with a stranger guides the character of Dina into discoveries and memories she hadn’t realized were impactful in her life.

[newintown]

It can sometimes be difficult to get the meaning of a show via the cast recording alone; I can't imagine anyone watching the show (and paying attention) having difficulty understanding the meaning of "Omar Sharif" (although I wish the song title was "Umm Kulthum and Omar Sharif," even though I know there are maybe 10 Americans who know who Ms. Kulthum was). The meaning of the song is set up quite clearly in the preceding dialogue.

[henrikegerman]

The song is Proustian in its rhapsodic recollections.

But it's not at all a solitary meditation. 

What is happening is very interpersonal.  It is in a scene of connection. 

However, the scene and song are not so much about trying to connect as they are about how they connect, what they share, how they look at each other. 

The way Tony looks at Katrina as she sings that song is the sexiest things to happen on Broadway since Anita Morris made a call to the Vatican.

[kdogg36]

Incidentally, according to the article msmp shared above, "Omar Sharif" had been cut from the show before David Cromer was brought in to direct. This seems kind of stunning to me. Engaging in some plausible conjecture, I suspect that it was Hal Prince who did the deed, and this suggests that he and the writers might have been working on very different wavelengths. 

[qolbinau]

That is an interesting anecdote. And might help explain why Hal Prince had 'scheduling conflicts'. I can understand why Hal might have wanted to cut it - on face value it stops the show and doesn't progress the 'story', but it is deeply needed to help develop the character (as discussed in this thread). It's also musically one of the most satisfying. It would have been very difficult to resolve if both parties were very strong in their stance.

Someone in another thread complained that most of the work on this show had been done with Hal - in my mind this is a clear example of why it wasn't. But I do wonder how the show changed over time.

[Kad]

The idea of a Prince-directed Band's Visit is unthinkable to me. The show so perfectly aligns with Cromer's sensibilities.

[everythingtaboo]

I said it in another thread, David Cromer deserved the Tony for Direction just for putting Omar Sharif back in the show. I couldn't imagine the show without it.

But also, really? People can't figure out what the song is about? Even out of context, they don't get how a song like this talks about how art (in this case music, cinema) can move you and transport you? I mean, isn't this a theatre message board? Surely we can be more sophisticated at figuring this out and finding it relatable.

[dramamama611]

Yup.  It's not brain surgery.

[carnzee]

kdogg36 said: "Incidentally, according to the article msmp shared above, "Omar Sharif" had been cut from the show before David Cromer was brought in to direct. This seems kind of stunning to me. Engaging in some plausible conjecture, I suspect thatit was Hal Prince who did the deed, and this suggests that he and the writers might have been working on very different wavelengths."

That's funny. Prince also recommended Funny Girl drop "People" and that A Little Night Music cut "Send in the Clowns." He alledgedly didn't understand what they were about.. Perhaps he didn't get "Omar Sharif" either.

[Valentina3]

carnzee said: "Perhaps he didn't get "Omar Sharif" either."

BWW user Tim Barstow is Hal Prince confirmed!

 

[newintown]

"

"That's funny. Prince also recommended Funny Girl drop "People" and that A Little Night Music cut "Send in the Clowns." He allegedly didn't understand what they were about.. Perhaps he didn't get "Omar Sharif" either."

I've heard a ton of stories about what seem to be straightforward plays, musicals, and plot points that Prince didn't "get." It seems that he can be very obtuse.

One of my favorites is, after reading and listening to drafts of Sweeney Todd, he suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, I get it! It's about English class structure!" (I might have replied, "No, that's Pygmalion."

[Huss417]

Unfortunately every time I hear the song and also happened both times I saw the saw I think of him slapping a woman. Takes me right out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymbzACTr_jI

[qolbinau]

It's hard to watch but not too shocking when you consider that Egypt, like many Islamic countries, is a terribly sexist society. I hope that so called 'progressives' can call out these blatantly sexist right-wing attitudes and values for what they are, standing up for genuinely progressive values and progressive attitudes. Unfortunately, the current state of play is that they would rather deny the human rights atrocities happening for women (and gay people) in much of the Islamic world for fear of appearing 'racist'. It's much easier to turn their attention to whether we should be saying fisherman or fisherperson.