Stage Dragon Review: Bad Jew – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Published on: 28 Apr, 2016
Updated on: 28 Apr, 2016

Ilan Goodman as Liam, Ailsa Joy as Daphna, Jos Slovick as Johan and (lying) Antonia Kinlay as Melody. Photo – © Nobby Clark

By Ferenc Hepp

This week’s offering at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre does have an intriguing title. Are there any connections to the horrors of Second World War? Is this anything to do with Jews using that name for themselves while consuming bacon or feasting during Passover?

It is neither.

It is a modern dark comedy written by Joshua Harmon, which premiered in New York in 2012, and was first performed in the UK in Bath in 2014 before transferring to London last year.

It is an intense piece of theatre that is performed over 1 hour 45 minutes without an interval. But I never looked at my watch during the performance; there was always something on stage to laugh at, to look at, to think about or be angry with.

It is set in a New York apartment belonging to Jonah (Jos Slovick) which gets invaded by various members of the same family following the grandfather’s funeral.

Ilan Goodman as Liam, Antonia Kinlay as Melody and Ailsa Joy as Daphna – Photo © Nobby Clark

Daphna (Ailsa Joy) seems to be acting like she has moved in, spending the majority of the time with her feet on various bits of furniture, followed by the arrival of Liam (Ilan Goodman) and his non-Jewish girlfriend Melody (Antonia Kinlay).

Liam is Jonah’s brother and he missed the funeral as he was skiing in Aspen with Melody. A bad Jew?

Jonah accepted his apartment as a gift from his parents. A bad Jew?

Daphna has not got a good word to say about anyone and justifies everything she says with religion. A bad Jew?

Maybe they all are, maybe none of them are. I think this is for the audience to decide and probably deliberately. In the author’s words: “I write because I’m interested in exploring a character.” He certainly achieved this in this play.

All four characters are very distinctive and portrayed effectively by the four actors. At first I was not so sure about the authenticity of Joy’s accent compared to the others on stage, but I cannot claim to be an expert in the field of New York Jews and the brilliant characterisations made me forget about accents after a while.

The set also includes the corridor outside the apartment and after Liam and Melody’s arrival. We soon know why.

Along with the bathroom, it is the only place to escape from the arguments and family rivalry that takes place in the studio. As Liam frustratingly proclaims: “I just need a second more not to be in there!”

There is a lot of ranting, shouting, debate about a precious Jewish Chai necklace that used to belong to the grandfather who deceased, as well as the contrasting character of Jonah, trying to keep a low profile in his own apartment and exasperatedly stating: “I am not getting involved!”

The script is very well written and flows well, the set is “real” and effective and despite all the family arguments, it is ridiculously funny.

I also left with a number of questions which I discussed with my friend on my way out; what will be the fate of that Chai? What is Daphna’s secret that everybody knows (according to Jonah)? What is the significance of the mark with Poppy’s (the grandfather’s) number on Jonah’s arm?

If you want to experience this yourself and try and answer these questions (and hopefully not be near someone with a rather loud carrier bag and a mobile phone that would not turn off, as we were) Bad Jews runs at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre until Saturday, April 30.

Tickets are available via the website: www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk or by calling the box office on 01483 440000.

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