By Cal
Link: https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/jewish-2021
Available until: 5th May
It gets to the stage sometimes when you’re almost scared to laugh.
Jew…ish is a hilarious comedy about a couple who belong together. Probably. Whether they’re better as friends, friends with benefits, benefits without friendship, a committed monogamous relationship or if they’re simply better texting each other from opposite sides of the world, there is something about Max and TJ that makes them perfect for each other.
But the comedy element can be so problematic. Jew…ish was very popular when it was first produced and it is now back by popular demand. The implication is that at least one of the writers is Jewish. But I can’t help thinking that there probably is a Jewish person somewhere that would find this play offensive.
It’s difficult to know what to do about that. I should think most plays have offended somebody. Some of what is said in Shakespeare’s plays is horrific – he probably didn’t know any better, but the feeling now is that ignorance is no excuse, even when it happened hundreds of years ago. We’re at the stage now where we’ve got to condemn any racism or anti-Semitism and I think that’s absolutely right, but exactly where is the line that mustn’t be crossed? I don’t think there’s any anti-Semitism here because I think the show is full of warmth, acceptance and affection, but with a sense of humour. But am I really qualified to judge? And if even one Jewish person does feel uncomfortable with the Jewish element of this show… what does that mean for me as a non-Jew who really enjoyed it?
I don’t think there are many people out there who really want to cause offence. Not in terms of a percentage of the human race. But for some people, the fact I watched this play and enjoyed it might be highly dubious.
It’s an important issue and I don’t want to brush it aside, but this is meant to be a review of the play, not of the reviewer’s personal level of wokeness.
Jew…ish is very enjoyable. Writers Saul Boyer (who also plays the role of Max) and Poppy Damon have created a unique romantic comedy. It has just two characters in and consists of a series of conversations between them. The two characters are far from typical rom-com characters, but that’s great. It’s original. TJ is a little bit frightening (she goes right for the jugular), but she’s quite endearing at the same time. Max is lovely. There are a lot of fictional characters who share Max’s ambitions and are in the same situation, but Max is very much an individual and it’s great to see this variation from the usual stereotype.
The relationship between them is great because it’s so different from most male/female relationships. It’s full of fun, insults and a real feeling that they know each other really well. They care about each other, even if they would really rather not show it most of the time. Sex comes into it, but their relationship(?) friendship(?) is based on so much more than that.
Directors Kennedy Bloomer and Toby Hampton have really emphasised the quirkiness of the relationship – there’s no playing it safe. The play feels spontaneous and real and the directors clearly have complete trust in the script. Sorcha Corcoran’s set is mostly bare, allowing the two very physical performers to use the set, but items such as tables and chairs are brought on when needed and then removed without disrupting the flow of the play. The sparkly back-drop is also great. There are a few scenes set in a car and as well as the two actors’ sitting side by side, there’s also a remote-controlled car which moves around the stage, which is a really clever idea.
Saul Boyer and Edie Newman are both great as Max and TJ. Max is occasionally self-conscious, usually funnier when he’s not trying to be and although he often tries to hide it, he cares about the people in his life a lot. TJ is wild, impulsive and, affectionately insensitive. The two actors portray the relationship beautifully and hilariously and there’s no sense of wanting them to hurry up and get together or anything like that. It’s great just watching them interact in whichever way they’re interacting at that given moment.
A very enjoyable and original play.
No comments:
Post a Comment