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ST. PETERSBURG – Whatever he learned at Cornell University and Juilliard School, playwright Joshua Harmon surely learned about family dynamics. His play, Bad Jews is animated by the spirit and malice of people for whom familiarity breeds contempt.
The show, opened in 2013, became the third most produced play in the United States. States. Harmon, 35, has emerged as one of the most important young voices in the theater, and with this show, it's easy to see why. It's hard to think of a game that accomplishes more in less time.
American Stage tackled the piece, directed by Amy Resnick. The title, which postponed it, has the most meaning as a mere retort of an expression of self-deprecation among Jews rather than something that foreigners have said of Jews. Familiarity means everything for four players in this viciously dark and shiny slice of life, a life we literally see in Jerid Fox's angular ensemble representing a functional and expensive sloppily condo on Riverside Drive. They gather here, in the spare apartment of young Jonah, for the funeral of Poppy, the patriarch of the family and heroic survivor of the Holocaust. The apartment close, where four berths of twenty people will lie, stop only at the edge of the stage, as if we were looking in, spying on intimate conversations.
Before it's over, we'll have learned what these characters think about what it means to be Jewish; what part of this identity must necessarily be linked to religious faith (or not); and what they think about each other. Its tense structure appeals to what psychologists call "dyads," the pairings that family members make to form bonds, keep secrets, or execute transactions. Here is a quick overview
Diana-Jonas: Diana (who also uses her Hebrew name, Daphna), wields her intelligence and observation skills as a lethal weapon. Without Jenny Lester in this role, it would not be the same game. She gets the humor of the character's flow of consciousness and her blunt honesty in a way that gives rhythm to the show. It is also its main driver of conflict. Jonah, his youngest cousin, is shocked by the loss of his grandfather and wants to stay out of family conflict. Matt Acquard has struggled to play a sweet voice character, a strong family anchor that delivers the biggest surprise of the show. Although this depiction is a bit bland, Acquard does nothing to interfere with the action.
Liam-Melody: Liam took a girlfriend, a nice blonde or shiksa . Kate Berg differs from the other three in every way imaginable, so much so that others are tempted to neglect her humanity. It's a strong performance from someone who can be underestimated, someone who can and will be tested as the conflict escalates.
Jonah-Melody: These characters rarely speak to each other. conflict between Diana and Liam; everyone would want to stay out of the fight.
Irreconcilable ideas also clash. Can Jews who want to preserve their lineages be accused of nativism, or even racism? Diana defends this desire. "How does your half-Jewish daughter teach her Jewish daughter a quarter of being Jewish?" she asks Liam. "How exactly does it work?"
Harmon sometimes relies too much on the monologue, making up a lot of brilliant speeches that do not look like real life. The end comes too abruptly and follows a dispute over the winery, so a sudden 90 degree turn is a bit difficult to accept. This performance did not benefit from a supremely powerful moment. But compared to the overall performance of the show, these are minor points. If you are not sure of a room, come back to see her. I will probably do exactly that, for fun this time.
Contact Andrew Meacham at [email protected] or (727) 892-2248. Follow @ torch437.
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