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A Jew Grows in Brooklyn
Written, Conceived and Starring Jake Ehrenreich
Directed by Jon Huberth & Jake Ehrenreich
At the North shore Center for the Performing Arts
9501 N Skokie Blvd
Skokie, IL
Call 847-673-6300 www.northshorecenter.org
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 pm
Friday, Nov. 7 at 8 pm
Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2 & 8 pm
Sunday, Nov. 9 at 1 & 5 pm
Running time is 90 minutes without intermission
Through November 9, 2008
A Rock ‘n Roll True Story, Holocaust Family, Bortsch Belt…Comedy Musical?!
My problem with Jake Ehrenreich’s autobiographical ‘Comedy Musical,’ “A Jew Grows in Brooklyn” is that it contains too much Yiddish—songs, punch lines to jokes and personal antidotes were expressed in that unique hybrid language. As a goy, (gentile) I found this mildly entertaining stage show a tad too ethnic, too autobiographical, too about Jake Ehrenreich’s family. I felt like I was trapped in Jake’s living room as he played the family videos and picture album. As compelling as Ehrenreich’s family may be, it smacks as a vanity show.
The most entertaining parts of this 90 minute show are in the Borscht Belt reminiscence that found Jake Ehrenreich’s doing a history of the summer resorts in the Catskill Mountains of Upper State New York. Ehrenreich’s talents as a singer, comedian and musician are immense. His sheer energy is contagious and these old Bortch Belt routines were hilarious. Too bad that there wasn’t more of this revue of those time when the Catskills were a summer center and proving ground for stand-up talents. Jake is a fine comedian and sincere entertainer. As it now plays, “A Jew Grows in Brooklyn” is to Jewish for me. Jews are the target audience. I got lost with so much Yiddish. The comedy came too little and too late for me. My Jewish guest also wanted more Bortch Belt humor and less personal biography.
Somewhat Recommended
Tom Williams
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2008
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