REVENGE: After the Levoyah

Two performers playing multiple characters, mainly Jewish. It is so frantic it took me a while to tune in, but it turned out to be really good - a madcap, 100mph black farce about North London Jews and their plot to kidnap Jeremy Corbyn. Very entertaining.

“REVENGE: After the Levoyah”
Nothing is funny about the mounting and alarming anti-Semitism occurring on both sides of the Atlantic; but Nick Cassenbaum has found a way to reap constant chuckles and outright guffaws as members of the Jewish community of Essex decide enough’s enough. That is certainly true for twins Lauren (Gemma Barnett) and Dan (Dylan Corbett-Bader) when their recently widowed grandmother is afraid to leave her apartment because of recent neighborhood incidents and when a plumber spews in Lauren’s face insults against Jews as he repairs the hot water heater.

How much threat really exists and how much is actually a community’s madcap hysteria becomes the heart of the fast-paced, satirical comedy so aptly directed by Emma Jude Harris. The two actors are themselves a riot as they constantly switch in split-second sequences seemingly dozens of roles. A turn of the head, a subtle raising of a shoulder or bending of the torso, or voices that alter dialect, tone, volume, and pitch simultaneously are just a few of a wide range of techniques each uses to become a rabbi, an ex-gangster, a ninety-something survivor, granny herself, and a host of others of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities. And when the decision that the best way to call attention to the rampant anti/Semitism is to kidnap a suspected perpetrator, Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn, the real fun begins.
Rating: 5 E

This is the best comedy I've seen this year. Grab a ticket while there are still a few left. It really should have been picked up by the Traverse, as it's far better than anything we've seen there.

One of the best shows I've seen at Fringe -- it's selling out, so get tickets if you can!
The show starts out as amusing, and heats from a simmer to a full boil as the farce slowly builds. It grabbed my attention and gripped me, and the rest of the sold-out audience, from the start. The actors portray multiple characters with amazing clarity, using both body and voice to differentiate characters. While making you laugh out loud, it also makes a serious point about our willingness to tolerate anti-semitism at the highest levels of government.

In Nick Cassenbaum's Revenge: After the Levoyah, Gemma Barnett and Dylan Corbett-Bader play twins Lauren and Dan, and a range of supporting characters. The play starts with the twins' grandfather's funeral, the levoyah, where ex-gangster Malcolm Spivak, persuades them to kidnap Jeremy Corbyn, on the grounds that he epitomises the anti-Semitism of the time. A rollercoaster ride of a farce ensues, in which dialogue is not always clear due to the speed of the delivery, accents and Jewish terms that may not have widespread recognition. It doesn't matter if minor plot details are unclear as they can be silly anyway, and the exuberance of the production is irresistible. This is a wonderfully enjoyable black comedy, with both serious points and the ability to make fun of anyone and everyone.

I love this show. LOVE!! Incredible acting, fast paced, meaningful and wild at the same time. Absolutely one of my favorite Fringe pieces this year. Do not miss it!! Truly the two performers are out of this world talented. Update: after seeing over 50 fringe shows this is my #1, absolute favourite. It's brilliant on every level and everyone should see it.

Brilliant! Such an incisive comment on the confusion caused amongst the Jewish community in London by the campaign against Corbyn. Beautifully acted with polished performances. Don’t miss it.

A double hander about twins in London and the kidnapping of Jeremy Corbyn. Sounds ridiculous? A riotous production with two actors playing a multitude of roles relying on facial expressions, posture and accent to differentiate. An outlandish plot used to explore antisemitism and ideas of certainty. An intelligent, witty script presented by accomplished actors, particularly the actor playing Lauren. Theatre can play such an important role in stimulating debate and this production achieved that aim with verve and style.

Hugely entertaining, both performers played their various characters to perfection, switching between them seamlessly. A right Jewish romp; guns, chopped liver, bagels and Jeremy Corbyn, who could ask for more!