Jewtopia: Putting on Stage All Those Stories!

Have you heard all these stories about Jewish people and ever wondered what is true what is not? If you have, do not miss seeing Jewtopia.

I saw this truly hilarious play last weekend in Coast playhouse in Los Angeles. And I should confess, this play is way worth than 25 bucks. Written skillfully and played by heart.(There should be a reason they are sold out in most performances!)

Two young guys, old schoolmates meet each other haphazardly at Jewish Single’s Mixer. They both have come here to find their Jewish soul mates. But what brings them to this mixer is not the same for both! Chris O’Connell simply wants a Jewish wife as he will be relieved from making any decisions for the rest of his life as she will run his life forever: what to wear, who to meet, where to go, etc. He is not a Jew rather is a Goyim * and this unique quality of a Jewish lady is his big motivation for coming to the mixer. His friend, Adam Lipschitz in contrast is a true Jew by birth but prefers the life of gentiles and hanging out with Shikses** as they are not like his mother!

They decide to help each other to realize their goal of finding the right one. Adam will teach Chris how to behave like a Jew and in return Chris will take Adam to Jewtopia. A virtual world of Jewish ladies waiting for a Jewish man to ask for their hand!

Here the real game starts. Chris wants to be the ultimate Jew and penetrate into Jewish community whereas Adam is trying his best on several dates to find the ideal Jewish wife that he can bring to his mum Passover*** dinner table! You are carried along on a train passing through the life of Jewish people and their views in this modern time.

Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson wrote this play and they play in it. They play so well that sometimes you forget if it is a play or a real life thing that these guys are so involved in it!

The beauty of the play is that it shows the Jewish beliefs and traditions in a sarcastic way. You can hear Jewish audience laughing harder than others as they have had the experience or sometime they understand those Yiddish words much better than others. But on the other hand Chris is so much enjoying these traditions and respects them that you see the positive attraction as well.

Jewtopia is a unique combination that would make everyone happy leaving the playhouse.

Kathy Hadizadeh

Los Angeles

June 2003

* Non-Jewish people

** Gentile girl

*** The holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the ancient Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.

N.B. Photos are from : http://www.reviewplays.com/jewtopia.htm