In American playwright Joshua Harmon’s BAD JEWS a New York Jewish family come together in a cramped New York apartment on the evening after their beloved grandfather Poppy’s funeral. The apartment is Jonah’s and he has allowed his difficult cousin, Daphna, to stay over. They are spending time together when they are joined by Jonah’s older brother, Liam, and his gentile wife, Melody.
It isn’t long before a major conflict ensues. As part of his estate Poppy has left a precious family heirloom- a Chai- Hebrew for Living- pendant which he managed to keep throughout his internment in a Nazi concentration camp by hiding it under his tongue.Daphna, being a devout Jewess and intent on taking Rabbinical studies, believes that it is her intrinsic right to be the benefactor of the pendant. Cousin Liam however doesn’t see it this way it all. A fierce battle of wills ensues…
I personally felt like throttling the obnoxious, aggressive Daphna, way too convincingly played by Maria Angelico. Her self righteousness and sense of entitlement was very grating.
One just wanted to hug and console Liam- passionately played by Simon Corfield , empathising with his more liberal and tolerant views, and feeling so sorry for him that he had to contend with such a bitchy, all knowing cousin.
It was very easy to relate to Jonah- played by Matt Whitty– and his way of just wanting to chill and zone out and play out video games. And so easy to feel sorry for outsider Melody who was the target of much of Daphna’s vitriol. One couldn’t help but feel that Harmon was having a bit of a dig at her character with her name, especially after, at one point in the play, she sings the most terrible, out of tune and melody version of the classic song, Summertime. Anna Burgess demonstrated good comic timing in this role.
Production values were good. Jacob Battista led with a sleekly designed NY apartment, Rob Sowinski’s deft lighting design, Dave Ellis’s soundscape and Keisey Henderson’s apt costume design all worked well.
My recommendation. This was a torrid night in the theatre, emotionally speaking. You will appreciate this production if you relish plays where you really get wound up and involved with its characters.
Joshua Harmon’s BAD JEWS is playing the Everest Theatre at the Seymour Centre until the 4th June. The production will then move on to play seasons in Brisbane in July at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and then Perth in August at the Regal theatre, Subiaco.