The The Jewish Character in the Sainete Criollo

Representations, Figures and Stereotypes in Theatrical Works Staged Between 1919 And 1923

Abstract

This article examines the representation of the Jewish immigrant in the sainete criollo through a comparative study of four plays staged between 1919 and 1923: El barrio de los judíos and El cambalache de Petroff by Alberto Vacarezza, Criollos, gringos y judíos by Alberto and Mario Rada, and El cambalache de la buena suerte by Alberto Novión. During this period, the Jewish character moved from occupying secondary roles to starring in sainetes written by established playwrights, premiered in the main theaters of Buenos Aires, and produced by consolidated companies that held a central position in the theatrical scene of the time. The analysis shows that while other immigrant groups were represented through a combination of positive and negative stereotypical traits, Jewish characters were frequently restricted to a limited repertoire of negative attributes. In this sense, the article argues that the sainete functioned as a pedagogical device that, while promoting the imaginary of the melting pot, established identity hierarchies and marked the boundaries of what counted as acceptable Argentinianness in the context of the post-World War I period.