I loved these Bad Jews, and at the end, the single word which popped into my mind as emotions swept me, was "powerful" which was the word a woman two seats away said out loud.
If two of us think so, it's got to be.
Three cousins meet in New York after their grandfather's death to try and sort things out.
In one corner of the boxing ring stands Daphna (Sophie Schulman), the wicked witch of the show whose mouth runs negative non-stop, and on the other side is Cousin Liam (Noah Schaefer), equally as domineering and loudmouthed, although kinder and gentler, qualities which Daphna has no knowledge nor possession.
To convey some idea of the power of the script and director's Cristina Alicea's skill with Ms. Schulman, it takes just a short while for the audience to develop intense dislike of Daphna and increasing astonishment over her choice of words.
What happened to her? Was she ever loved by anyone? Has she ever loved? Liam wants to know.
Just like a dog (but not a Golden Retriever), Daphna constantly grooms her hair all over the place, spinning her web and taking ownership. Liam complains.
Where is the vacuum? And the civility?
Liam's discourse is spellbinding, such that I hoped his head's protruding blood vessels did not explode when he did.
Adding balance and levity to the scenery are Liam's brother, Jonah (Vitaly Mayes), and Liam's girlfriend, Melody (Elizabeth Kate Vinarski) who is as pretty as her name implies, with all the freshness and innocence of a blooming yellow rose, in contrast to a suffocating insecticide. (Kind of like the Good Witch and the Bad Witch in the Wizard of Oz, or Melanie and Scarlett in Gone With the Wind, although Scarlett to Daphna is baking soda to cayenne pepper.)
Bad Jews takes place in a contemporary studio apartment right on Riverside Drive which overlooks the Hudson, with stylish kitchen, entryway, living area, and ceiling and hallway lighting to easily divide transitions and script. (Kudos to scenic designer Jack Golden and lighting designer Sarah Tundermann.)
Costume designer Kristina Martin dresses Daphna all in black, of course (at least, to start the fireworks which glow better in the night) which match Daphna's hair color.
Since many of the lines seem to be lifted from our national dialogue and chieftain, I imagined that playwright Joshua Harmon wrote it within the last year, however, it opened off-Broadway in 2012, and he wrote it the year before.
The dark comedy is filled with messages which hit us in the gut and remind us what it's all about.
I imagine many of us have a Daphna in our midst, or a variation of her (why is it always the woman?) which made me happy at the end, knowing my family is not quite as bad as Liam and Daphna's. We mostly treat each other with respect because, like my mother used to say: If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all.
This NextStop Theatre production continues to strengthen Herndon's growing reputation as a suburban center for professional theatre in Washington.
Other Bad Jews crew members are: Caitlin M. Caplinger, assistant director; Jonathan Powers, sound designer and composer; Laura M. Moody, stage manager;
Kristen Hunter Fitzgerald, assistant stage manager; Sarah Kamins, properties designer; Casey Kaleba, fight choreographer; and master electricians,
Jonathan Abolins and Maeve Nash
What: Bad Jews
When: Thursday through Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. through June 17, 2018. A Saturday matinee will be presented at 2 p.m., June 9.
Where: NextStop Theatre Company, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, VA 20170 in the back right corner of Sunset Business Park, near the intersection of Spring Street/Sunset Hills Road. Right off the Fairfax County Parkway. A wee big hard to find on a first visit, so allow an extra 15 minutes. The program notes that GPS map systems often give incorrect driving directions once inside the Sunset Business Park. From the "Taste of the World" restaurant, circle counter-clockwise around the building and look for maroon awning.
Free parking: Available near the door.
Admission: Tickets are $35.
Duration: About 90 minutes without intermission
Language rating: X, like Samantha Bee's and plenty of it
Sex and skin: None
For more information: 703-481-5930 info@nextstoptheatre.org
patricialesli@gmail.com
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