BWW Reviews: PLAYING JORDAN GOLDMAN Better Suited to the Screen

It is difficult not to be engaged in a well-written comedy with Jewish humor. Take Woody Allen's many plays or, for example, Jewtopia, which was such a gigantic hit a few years ago. Jewish people are not afraid to admit who they are and are the first to poke fun at their own family traditions and religious practices.

The Neiman brothers' piece Playing Jordan Goldman is labeled The New Jewish Comedy - and it does have an abundant amount of humor about how a Jewish young man takes advantage of his religion to make money - and how the corporate world of TV will make mega bucks at the expense of the millions of Jews who celebrate a Bar Mitzvah. Despite the socially relevant comedic statement, the play misses the boat for two major reasons.

First of all, when we meet Jordan Goldman, age 30, he is taking no responsibility for his life and that alone makes it difficult for an audience to like him. No wonder his girlfriend kicks him out and that he is constantly at odds with his sister. What a schmuck! And then when he tries to make money off a Bar Mitzvah, that he doesn't really take to heart, should we condone him? We expect that eventually he will see the light and change for the better, and when he finally befriends a rabbi, who tries to set him on an insightfully humane path, can we honestly feel sorry for him in those moments when he doesn't know how to cope? For me, it's an impossible task. I can accept an alcoholic or a drug addict, who have been overpowered by weakness or someone unduly victimized or abused by negativity, but someone who has just passed away the time composing music and living off of others without pulling his own weight?
No, no, no!!!!!!!!!!!

Secondly, when he finally does have a transiton to manhood, befriends his ex-girlfriend's nephew - a sweet kid who went through stomach stapling and gained all the weight back -and realizes that there are others more deserving of the money than himself, it seems all too predictable. Where's the shock, the element of surprise that made his salvation possible? Is an instilling of the biblical doctrine enough? Maybe have Jordan fall in love with the rabbi. Something peculiar and unexpected that will bring him closer to his own sense of truth and identity and at the same time engage the audience more. Right now the discovery comes directly from the rabbi's religious indoctrination, and as such, this makes the story plod along instead of soar.

Within this presentation that is definitely more suitable to the screen than to the stage, there are some wonderful character performances. Paul Stroili is drop dead funny in two roles, especially as the corporate exec who has learned in later life about his own Jewish heritage. Joseph George Makdisi is thoroughly genuine as Jordan's gay pal Matt. Christopher Meehan is terrific in a variety of roles, and Lynn Freedman is precious as Jordan's sister Emily. Director Levin is a hoot as a Long Island Woman at an early Bar Mitzvah. I would like to see more of her onstage! Pier Fiedorowicz makes a cute and loveable Mikey Rosenthal. Andy Neiman fits the bill of rabbi Jim to a tee and David Neiman does his best to convince us of his sincerity throughout his inner turmoil.

The small film within the play presenting the TV commerical for Jordan's Bar Mitzvah sponsored by Gillette is quite delightful.

In its current state, Playing Jordan Goldman will not be more than a passable movie. Creators, think of Benjamin in The Graduate and Harold in Harold and Maude and how each found his self-worth. In each of these entertainments there's an element of shock that takes us by surprise, jolts us and makes us think.

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Playing Jordan Goldman
by David and Andy Neiman
Theatre Theater
directed by Cynthia Levin
through April 23 (Thursdays and Fridays only @ 8pm)

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