Review: BAD JEWS at Studio Theatre

I am one of those people who call themselves a "bad Jew." I am part of the millennial generation of American Jews who feel proud to call themselves Jewish, but at the same time face the guilt-sort of-of not being religious. But what does it mean to be a bad Jew exactly? What does it even mean to be a good Jew? In reality, does anyone even really care?

These are the ideas playwright Joshua Harmon nails and director Serge Seiden captures in the play BAD JEWS, which is being produced at Studio Theatre for the second year straight due to popular demand. The story is simple enough, three Jewish cousins, and an (un)welcomed guest, convene following their grandfather's funeral in a night that becomes loud verbal warfare.

The main contenders in this fight are "super Jew" Daphna (Laura Lapidus) and "bad Jew" Liam (Noah Averbach-Katz), who drag Liam's brother, Jonah (Rowan Vickers), and Liam's girlfriend, Melody (Maggie Wilder) into the middle of it. On the surface, they are fighting for ownership of their grandfather's chai, a necklace with the Hebrew letters meaning life on it, which he was able to keep with him through the Holocaust. In reality, Daphna is fighting against Liam's secularism and Liam is fighting Daphna's "fantasy" land of religious rite.

The battle is mean and the anger between the two is unrepressed. It is also rife with biting humor and a brilliant commentary on American Jewish identity unparalleled in entertainment.

It is also rare when you can honestly say that an ensemble of actors are all incredibly strong and bring something unique to the show. There were not any weaknesses. I may have not really liked the characters, but ultimately that just speaks to the high caliber of acting seen on stage.

Perhaps my only comment on the show is with its advertising. BAD JEWS is marketed as a comedy. In many ways it is. It is hilarious and there is certainly comedy. However, when thinking about what the show really says about being a young Jew in America, focusing on just the comedy in a review, seems to take some of that meaning away.

For me, my Jewish identity is something I have fought with and thought a lot about since I was in high school. I never really felt Jewish, yet I was never going to reject Judaism. So I am constantly asking myself what I should do with it. Daphna's remarks to Liam that Jews have gone through history, for thousands of years, and made it "here" (in this case New York City). That really speaks to the Jewish experience. You can't just ignore the history; you can't just let it disappear. Whether you want to look at Judaism religiously or culturally it can still be a part of your life. Ultimately, I think anyone who grew up with any sort of ethnic background in the US and has slowly seen traditions fade can relate to the ideas behind this show. Assimilation is not unique to the American Jewish experience.

The comedy, the stories, the stereotypes talked about in the show are just a vehicle to talk about Jewish identity. Ultimately, making fun of ourselves and having a sense of humor is part of being Jewish. To recognize this writing as just a comedy is too simple and in all honesty the verbal abuse the characters go through was enough for me to say, this show isn't a comedy.

BAD JEWS is a fearless piece of theater. At Studio, it was amazingly executed and the actors were clearly encouraged to take risks and not hold back. It is one of those shows that reminds you why theater exists in the first place and is one that no one from the yentes to the goys, want to miss.

BAD JEWS is playing at Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St NW, Washington DC, through Jan. 3. Tickets can be purchased on their website.

Runtime is one hour and 30 minutes, without an intermission.

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