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There's nothing unorthodox about ‘Modern Orthodox'
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Reviewed by MARGI HERWALD, City Editor
t's good to laugh at yourself every now and again.
The Jewish Community Center's Arts & Culture program gives us a chance to do just that with its first play of the '06-07 season: “Modern Orthodox.”
It is at Tri-C East's Performing Arts Center through Nov. 5.
A hit comedy off-Broadway, “Modern Orthodox” is a light-hearted and occasionally slapsticky look at the unlikely sort-of-friendship that develops between an intensely secular urban sophisticate Jew and a rumpled and farmished (confused), but lovingly devout Orthodox diamond dealer. Packed to the brim with Jewish phrases, rituals, cultural references and neuroses, it certainly seemed to tickle the opening night crowd's collective funny bone.
Cute and funny it is. But that's all it is. Both the “Modern Orthodox” script and the JCC's production are as plain as can be, neither daring to reach for anything deeper than cute nor more artistic than funny.
It all begins when secular yuppie Ben (Larry Nehring) sets up a meeting to buy a diamond engagement ring from good-hearted, loquacious schlemiel Hershel (Brian Zoldessy). Ben is immediately put off by just how Jewish Hershel is; Ben believes the Orthodox Hershel looks down on him for being an “ersatz Jew” who only attends shul on the High Holidays. Bitter Ben refuses to purchase a diamond from Hershel unless he removes his yarmulke. Desperate to make the sale, Hershel complies.
Ben can't get Hershel out of his head, even while popping the question to his live-in girlfriend, the tired, jaded doctor Hannah (Lara Mielcarek). Then Hershel shows up on his doorstep. Since temporarily removing his yarmulke to make the sale, Hershel has suffered a litany of tragedies from losing his fianc'e to being kicked out of his parents' house. He blames Ben for his misfortune and asks that Ben set it right by finding him a new bride. Feeling guilty, Ben and Hannah grudgingly agree to take Hershel in and help him.
Ultimately, “Modern Orthodox” is meant to be about how these unlikely friends change each other: Ben and Hannah's modern sensibilities help the nervous, virginal Hershel gain confidence with women, and Hershel's piety reminds the cynical couple of the simple joys they've been overlooking in their relationship with each other and with Judaism.
It sounds very nice, but Daniel Goldfarb's script only skims the surface of these ideas. He keeps the humor easy and light, and never explores why Ben has a problem with Orthodox Jews, why Hannah and Ben's relationship is in trouble, or why Hershel would do Š well Š any of the things that he does.
For example, Ben kashers his and Hannah's dishes so that Hershel may eat off them. When Ben returns with the newly kashered dishes, he tosses off a meaningless, trite explanation of why performing this important ritual act excited him. The author misses an opportunity to delve even a centimeter beneath the surface of what it means for a completely assimilated Jew to commit to such traditional observance and to willingly make himself stand out as the “other.”
Similarly, director Fred Sternfeld imposes no opinion or directorial vision on the script. He simply shows us people eating dinner, kissing or arguing on as surface a level as the script.
The production's strength lies in the energetic and comedically adept performances of Zoldessy and Nehring as Hershel and Ben, respectively. Both actors have excellent comic timing and commit themselves fully to every ridiculous act, farcical moment and wisecrack.
Zoldessy manages to make his Hershel so sweet you forgive the character's pushiness, and he absolutely shines in the awkward moment of Hershel's first kiss. Zoldessy works hard to exude the youthful exuberance and uncertainty of a character just starting his own business and love life. This is quite a feat considering Zoldessy is probably 20-25 years older in real life than Hershel is supposed to be in the script.
Nehring, also obviously older than Ben is in the script, expertly navigates Ben's incongruous jumps from jerk to caring guy. He's sadly sweet as he constantly tells Hannah, “I love you,” only to never hear her say, “I love you, too.”
As the emotionally worn-out Hannah, Mielcarek is adequate. She's adorable, but shrill, and she doesn't really have any romantic chemistry with Nehring or Zoldessy. Her Hannah is very bubbly, even while she constantly complains that she's tired.
As Hershel's sex-obsessed Orthodox blind date Rachel, Holly Facer is amusingly lusty. But she doesn't make bold enough choices to justify her character's bold dialogue.
Ben Needham's set nicely combines the literal and the figurative. A brightly-colored Star of David painted with images of New York City, Jewish tradition and Jewish popular culture hangs above Hershel and Ben during their initial meeting. When the set shifts to reveal Ben and Hannah's suitably realistic apartment, the Star of David splinters into three pieces that border the set until they come back together at the play's conclusion.
Sound designer Richard B. Ingraham fills the scene shifts with groovy tunes that combine traditional klezmer sounds with modern rock-style drums and bass. Trad A Burns's lighting design is evocative, particularly when Hershel and Hannah sit in the half-light of Shabbat, forbidden by Jewish law to turn on the electricity.
If you're looking for jokes without much close self-examination, “Modern Orthodox” is a fun, little romp through the lives of three confused Jews trying to find love in the 21st century.
“Modern Orthodox,” produced by the JCC, plays through Nov. 5 at Tri-C East's Performing Arts Center. Shows are Thursdays at 7:30, Saturdays at 8 and Sundays at 2. www.tick ets.com or 800-766-6048.
Be advised: the show contains some profanity and sexual situations. Parental discretion advised.
mherwald@cjn.org
t's good to laugh at yourself every now and again.
The Jewish Community Center's Arts & Culture program gives us a chance to do just that with its first play of the '06-07 season: “Modern Orthodox.”
It is at Tri-C East's Performing Arts Center through Nov. 5.
A hit comedy off-Broadway, “Modern Orthodox” is a light-hearted and occasionally slapsticky look at the unlikely sort-of-friendship that develops between an intensely secular urban sophisticate Jew and a rumpled and farmished (confused), but lovingly devout Orthodox diamond dealer. Packed to the brim with Jewish phrases, rituals, cultural references and neuroses, it certainly seemed to tickle the opening night crowd's collective funny bone.
Cute and funny it is. But that's all it is. Both the “Modern Orthodox” script and the JCC's production are as plain as can be, neither daring to reach for anything deeper than cute nor more artistic than funny.
It all begins when secular yuppie Ben (Larry Nehring) sets up a meeting to buy a diamond engagement ring from good-hearted, loquacious schlemiel Hershel (Brian Zoldessy). Ben is immediately put off by just how Jewish Hershel is; Ben believes the Orthodox Hershel looks down on him for being an “ersatz Jew” who only attends shul on the High Holidays. Bitter Ben refuses to purchase a diamond from Hershel unless he removes his yarmulke. Desperate to make the sale, Hershel complies.
Ben can't get Hershel out of his head, even while popping the question to his live-in girlfriend, the tired, jaded doctor Hannah (Lara Mielcarek). Then Hershel shows up on his doorstep. Since temporarily removing his yarmulke to make the sale, Hershel has suffered a litany of tragedies from losing his fianc'e to being kicked out of his parents' house. He blames Ben for his misfortune and asks that Ben set it right by finding him a new bride. Feeling guilty, Ben and Hannah grudgingly agree to take Hershel in and help him.
Ultimately, “Modern Orthodox” is meant to be about how these unlikely friends change each other: Ben and Hannah's modern sensibilities help the nervous, virginal Hershel gain confidence with women, and Hershel's piety reminds the cynical couple of the simple joys they've been overlooking in their relationship with each other and with Judaism.
It sounds very nice, but Daniel Goldfarb's script only skims the surface of these ideas. He keeps the humor easy and light, and never explores why Ben has a problem with Orthodox Jews, why Hannah and Ben's relationship is in trouble, or why Hershel would do Š well Š any of the things that he does.
For example, Ben kashers his and Hannah's dishes so that Hershel may eat off them. When Ben returns with the newly kashered dishes, he tosses off a meaningless, trite explanation of why performing this important ritual act excited him. The author misses an opportunity to delve even a centimeter beneath the surface of what it means for a completely assimilated Jew to commit to such traditional observance and to willingly make himself stand out as the “other.”
Similarly, director Fred Sternfeld imposes no opinion or directorial vision on the script. He simply shows us people eating dinner, kissing or arguing on as surface a level as the script.
The production's strength lies in the energetic and comedically adept performances of Zoldessy and Nehring as Hershel and Ben, respectively. Both actors have excellent comic timing and commit themselves fully to every ridiculous act, farcical moment and wisecrack.
Zoldessy manages to make his Hershel so sweet you forgive the character's pushiness, and he absolutely shines in the awkward moment of Hershel's first kiss. Zoldessy works hard to exude the youthful exuberance and uncertainty of a character just starting his own business and love life. This is quite a feat considering Zoldessy is probably 20-25 years older in real life than Hershel is supposed to be in the script.
Nehring, also obviously older than Ben is in the script, expertly navigates Ben's incongruous jumps from jerk to caring guy. He's sadly sweet as he constantly tells Hannah, “I love you,” only to never hear her say, “I love you, too.”
As the emotionally worn-out Hannah, Mielcarek is adequate. She's adorable, but shrill, and she doesn't really have any romantic chemistry with Nehring or Zoldessy. Her Hannah is very bubbly, even while she constantly complains that she's tired.
As Hershel's sex-obsessed Orthodox blind date Rachel, Holly Facer is amusingly lusty. But she doesn't make bold enough choices to justify her character's bold dialogue.
Ben Needham's set nicely combines the literal and the figurative. A brightly-colored Star of David painted with images of New York City, Jewish tradition and Jewish popular culture hangs above Hershel and Ben during their initial meeting. When the set shifts to reveal Ben and Hannah's suitably realistic apartment, the Star of David splinters into three pieces that border the set until they come back together at the play's conclusion.
Sound designer Richard B. Ingraham fills the scene shifts with groovy tunes that combine traditional klezmer sounds with modern rock-style drums and bass. Trad A Burns's lighting design is evocative, particularly when Hershel and Hannah sit in the half-light of Shabbat, forbidden by Jewish law to turn on the electricity.
If you're looking for jokes without much close self-examination, “Modern Orthodox” is a fun, little romp through the lives of three confused Jews trying to find love in the 21st century.
“Modern Orthodox,” produced by the JCC, plays through Nov. 5 at Tri-C East's Performing Arts Center. Shows are Thursdays at 7:30, Saturdays at 8 and Sundays at 2. www.tick ets.com or 800-766-6048.
Be advised: the show contains some profanity and sexual situations. Parental discretion advised.
mherwald@cjn.org
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