Play Review: Bad Jews

Raviv Ullman, Molly Ephraim, Ari Brand & Lili Fuller in Bad Jews

Joshua Harmon wrote Bad Jews, which, according to GeffenPlayhouse.com, contains mature themes and strong language.  Matt Shakman is directing it at the Geffen Playhouse through July 26, 2015.  The cast consists of four actors:  Ari Brand, as big brother Liam; Raviv Ullman, as little brother Jonah; Molly Ephraim, as cousin Daphna; and Lili Fuller, as Liam's fiancée, Melody.  

I enjoyed the privilege of seeing this play, thanks to Gary Sinise, who provides excellent dinners with some of the Geffen's plays, on certain nights, to U.S. Military personnel and Veterans.  As a military retiree and member of Hollywood Post 43, I make it a point to attend these dinners and plays every chance
I get.  

Of all the plays I've seen, I consider this one to be the most hilarious.  I can relate to Liam not wanting to waste a moment of time with his obnoxious, religiously fanatical cousin Daphna - especially when he could spend each of those moments with his fiancée, Melody, instead.  I can relate to Daphna thinking Melody is a stupid, tattooed bimbo.  I can relate to Melody just wanting to get to know (and get along with) her fiancé's family, and deciding to attend college, and study something she loves, but against a career in entertainment after enduring a small portion of the abuse heaped on would-be entertainers by the egomaniacs in the industry.  I can relate to Jonah, who loves his brother and his cousin, and is willing to tolerate his brother's gentile fiancée, and especially doesn't want to get sucked into a war between any of these people.

I was particularly impressed by Ari and Molly's dialogues/diatribes.  Very intense, hilarious emotion!  I can't help but wonder how much was scripted, and how much ad lib/improvised.  I was also very impressed by Lili's singing of George Gershwin's "Summertime," which, based on the dialogue, was supposed to be bad, but which I thought was excellent.

This play beg various questions, including:

Will Liam find a place to sleep out of earshot from Daphna?

Will Liam let Daphna have the heirloom she covets, but which he possesses and intends to give to Melody in lieu of an engagement ring?

Will Jonah take sides with Ari or Daphna?

Can people in the bathroom hear what people are saying in the kitchen?

Will Melody accept Liam's proposal?

Will Liam place the heirloom on Melody's neck?

Would Daphna physically assault Melody if she saw the Jewish heirloom on her gentile neck?

Will Melody decide Jews are too bad to marry, or even be friends with?

Why does Daphna cling to Judaism more so than perhaps any of her relatives, yet not believe in ninety percent of its sexist, antiquated teachings?

Why is there a bandage on Jonah's forearm?

Are tattoos a dumb idea?

For answers to these and other questions, see the play yourself!

Play review by William Mortensen Vaughan