Quick Hit Theater Review: Old Jews Telling Jokes

Old Jews Telling Jokes

Created by Peter Gethers and Daniel Okrent

Featuring Bill Army, Marilyn Sokol, Todd Susman, Audrey Lynn Weston and Lenny Wolpe

Directed by Marc Bruni

Westside Theatre (downstairs) 

What’s it about?

Well, it is a few old Jews (and a couple of younger ones) telling jokes based on the original internet series created by Sam Hoffman. There are a few songs (with pianist Donald Corren) and even a “follow the bouncing dreidel "number where the audience sings along There also are video segments with graphics and bits from comedy routines to break up the joke telling. David Gallo throws in a couple of plastic-covered sofas for some of the bits to make us smile too. The jokes also are sort of organized into categories like, birth, death, marriage and sex, but pretty much it’s 90 minutes of jokes.  

What are the highlights?

It’s pretty funny and doesn’t take itself too seriously. The three older actors have honed their comedic chops over the years  (Sokol’s Dial-A-Jokes are in the Smithsonian, you’ll recognize Susman as the announcer from the TV show M*A*S*H and Wolpe was the Wizard in Wicked) They seem to be having a lot of fun up there. Army and Weston add some fresh-faced balance. 

What are the lowlights?

There are a couple of bits that fall flat.  

Other information:

Old Jews Telling Jokes runs Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre, 407 West 43^rd St., NY. Tickets: (212) 239-6200. The show is 90 minutes with no intermission.

Christians might also like to know:
-- Language. Lots of it.
-- Sexually suggestive dialogue. Lots of it.