BAD JEWS to Receive Australian Premiere at Alex Theatre, St Kilda

Aleksandar Vass and Vass Theatre Group along with Alex Theatre St Kilda are excited to announce the Broadway and West End hit Bad Jews will have its Australian premiere at the Alex Theatre, St Kilda. An all-Australian production, Bad Jews plays from 27 August for a strictly limited season. Tickets are on sale now from Ticketek.

The play has been widely embraced by the Jewish community and, indeed, by audiences in general, in both the US and UK. Bad Jews' Australian Producer, Aleksandar Vass, is confident Australians will also love the show.

"Aussies have such a broad sense of humour, and even though the play takes place within the confines of a New York Jewish family, their story could be any family that has, shall we say, relatives we love and loathe ... at the same time," said Mr. Vass.

"Bad Jews was a massive hit in New York last year and has three touring companies in the US at the moment. In the UK, it's still running in a sell-out season. Only shows that strike a chord with audiences enjoy such success.

"It is an edgy, black comedy that doesn't play it safe and I think they are the types of shows that Melbourne audiences respond to."

Bad Jews was a sell out at the Ustinov Studio in Bath when it made its UK premiere earlier this year, earning huge critical acclaim and recently selling out its London season at the St. James Theatre. It was the hottest show in New York when it premiered in 2013, with the New York Post calling Bad Jews, "gleefully entertaining" and the New York Times hailing the show, "the best comedy of the season".

Written by New York playwright Joshua Harmon, Bad Jews is a story about family relationships, cultural identity, as well as grief, loss and legacy. It's a devastatingly funny battle of Old Testament proportions!

Their beloved grandfather has died and a treasured family heirloom with religious significance is up for grabs in the Feygenbaum family. But who is most deserving of it? Bossy, overbearing, fanatically religious Daphna, who swears she is the most devout Jew in her family? Her wealthy, less observant cousin Liam, who's just returned from skiing with his non-Jewish girlfriend, Melody? Or Jonah, Liam's brother, who would prefer not to get involved in the fight?

A cramped Manhattan apartment becomes the setting for a viciously hilarious quarrel about family, faith and legacy as the contenders set at each other's throats on the night after the funeral.

Bad Jews features a tremendously talented Australian cast. Starring as the domineering Daphna is Maria Angelico (Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Under a Red Moon, Hating Alison Ashley, Wentworth, Rush, City Homicide, We Can Be Heroes). Simon Corfield (Packed to the Rafters, COPS, Crownies, The Birth of Creation, The One-Eyed Man is King) stars as Liam while his 'shiksa' girlfriend, Melody, is played by Anna Burgess (39 Steps, God of Carnage, Goodbye Miss Monroe, The Producers, Waiting for Godot, Neighbours, Last Man Standing, Thank God You're Here). Matt Whitty (Foxfinder, About Tommy, Penelope) plays Jonah.

Directed by Gary Abrahams, Bad Jews' creatives include Designer Jacob Battista, Lighting Designer Katie Sfetkidis, and Executive Producer Helen Ellis. The play is produced by Aleksandar Vass in conjunction with the VASS Theatre Group, Richard Fitzgerald Artistic Director and General Manager.

Strictly limited season from 27 August. Tickets on sale now from Ticketek.

To post a comment, you must register and login.