Drama group accused of Jewish racism

So what part are you playing DP?

I'm not offened, although he does look like the sterotypical Hasidic profile. Fagan was a product of Dickens and his times, anti-semitism was the norm. Same for Shakespeare and his character Shylock. I don't think it's a big deal when seen in context with history and literature. I am a little surprised that Fagan was chosen to promote the production instead of an image of the title character.

So what part are you playing DP?

Is Fagan spelled Fagin? Regardless, in my opinion, the character is just reinforcing a negative stereotype about Jews (aka "Jewish people").
There are many characters that reinforce negative stereotypes. That's why we don't see Amos N' Andy on tv anymore in the USA. There are no Amos N' Andy characters alive, I doubt if there ever were any, but this negative stereotype is just plain old offensive. Perhaps, many negative stereotypes are just canards?
Also, when Jews (aka "Jewish people") are very much contributing members of our society, here in the USA, choosing a play by an author that did not know of any positive stereotypes about Jews (aka...), such as the discoverers of both polio vaccines, reflected a bit of what? I can't read minds, so I don't know what it reflected. Nothing malicious I'm sure.
Possibly, the depiction of Fagin in the musical just reflects a cultural norm for that historical period, like today wishing everyone a "Merry Christmas" around December 20, even when that person is a Hindu, Buddhist, or Jew. In otherwords, with no malicious intent, sometimes an error in political correctness is made, since few of us are schooled in cross-cultural sensitivities.
An opposite argument could also be made that not to depict Fagin as he was depicted would be historically inaccurate for the musical. The question then arises what is the goal, historical accuracy or political correctness.
Why not the musical South Pacific?

Anyway, the play is done and gone, is it not?

I congratulate the Benalla Theatre Company and the
Mansfield Musical and Dramatic Society on entertaining our local communities, something which
the actors and the whole crew clearly enjoyed doing.
Community spirit is alive and well in country Victoria.

Talking of nasty pieces of work, the action by the
Bracks government in stealing water from northern
Victoria to satisfy Melbourne's insatiable appetite for
water is an absolute disgrace!

Foofie wrote:

Dickens lived long before there were polio vaccines.

Foofie didn't say the author of the novel (Dickens) pre-dated the polio vaccine. He or she said the author of the play, i.e., Lionel Bart...a Jew himself! In addition to the fact that Lionel Bart was Jewish, several of the main characters in the original London production of "Oliver" were played by Jews, including Ron Moody as Fagin, Georgia Brown as Nancy, and Martin Horsey as the Artful Dodger.

Does this mean that I approve of negative Jewish stereotypes (or any kind of stereotypes)? No, and quite frankly, it has always puzzled me that Lionel Bart should have chosen to write "Oliver" and that Ron Moody should have agreed to play such a character, but I guess Bart had some great ideas for the show (it IS a fabulous show) and a role like Fagin (particularly since Bart lightened him up and made him comical...almost lovable...and nicer to the boys than he was in the novel) was hard to turn down. It's a hell of a role.

Because Dickens does not use the word Jew in the story, I think that people not steeped in racism, or who have not been recipients of racist targeting, may not always make the connection here. I read Oliver Twist as a child, and was never aware that Fagin was such a stereotype. I never associated him with a specific group, except the underworld he lived in.