Edinburgh Fringe 2006Here are two reviews from our recent show at the internationally-renown Edinburgh Fringe Festival:
Scene4Magazine
Edinburgh Fringe 2006 Reviews
The Black Jew Dialogues *****
Larry Jay Tish & Ron Jones
What's so funny about two American minorities that have slavery, the KKK, and chicken livers in common? That's what you'll find out in this extraordinary two-actor play on the history and absurdity of prejudice and racism within the context of the American Black-Jew experience. The Black Jew Dialogues combines aspects of theatre, sketch-comedy, improv, video, and spoken-word. "Switch off your mobiles and your prejudices" is the start for the two friends Larry Jay Tish and Ron Jones for a 50 minute journey through the similarities and differences of two American minority groups. And if there is one show to be seen this year's fringe, it is definitely this one. They find humor in everything from the Jewish involvement in the Dutch slave trade to two rednecks on a joy ride of hate. From a bar mitzvah boy explaining the cash kick-start his manhood receives, to octogenarian grandmothers singing and dancing about the joys of soul food and Jewish comfort food. The ONE Program, a program designed to make white people less fearful of blacks, and JUDAR, the ability that Jews have to spot other Jews. A marvelous journey through history, prejudices, humor, a stunning multi-media show about two apparently so different cultures, that are so different, so alike, so who knew! And a strong message that will hopefully keep the prejudices switched off when the phones are turned on again. Thank you, Ron and Larry!
Broadway Baby
The Black Jew Dialogues
Enjoyable romp through history, prejudice and stereotypes
In the Black Jew Dialogues actors and writers Ron Jones and Larry Jay Tish explore stereotypes and similarities of the black and Jewish experiences in America, using a sketch show format. This is the show's world premier.
It opens with some very entertaining video footage of Jones and Tishs' puppet doppelgangers interviewing passers-by in New York to see what they think of black Americans and Jewish Americans. What follows is a romp through 4,000 years of world history, from slaves in Egypt to gansta rap. Punctuated with video, costume changes and music, Jones and Tish set up and break down stereotypes.
Some of these elements work very well. The grandmothers picnic in the park, the ONE programme for helping white people become less afraid of black people and the rednecks looking for someone to hurt stand out. However, given the current situation in the middle east, some exploration of the difference between ‘Jewish' and ‘Israeli' might have been required to really ensure that peoples' prejudices were left at the door.
The show would be very valuable in exploring issues of racism with older teenagers, and one might expect that Jones and Tish could have a very sellable formula for future work with colleges and schools. Thought provoking stuff, but in the context of the Fringe though some may find that they would prefer some of the lessons turned down and the comedy turned up. [KM]