The following is a review of the Bristol Spotlights play ‘My People’.
When I first heard that a Jewish-themed dark comedy was coming onto the scene of student theatre, I was incredibly excited. As a Jewish student, the prospect of having such a relatable play was intriguing. With the first night sold out well in advance, I was excited to see what the play would bring.
It certainly did not disappoint. It is not often that the media captures the dynamic of a Jewish family (I’m sick of the phrase ‘Shalom Jackie’ by now) so exactly and humorously but Elliot Brett manages to do so with his clever use of dark humour and satire. The play is set at a Seder table during Passover, one of the most widely celebrated Jewish festivals. Brett excellently recreates the dual pleasure and pain of these intense family gatherings with a sprinkling of Jewish tradition and staging which perfectly expresses its claustrophobic intimacy.
The action centres around the Lewin-Cohen family who attempt to gather together to celebrate the festival despite their dysfunctional relationships. The mother, Debra, desperately wishes to reunite her children – Asha (who has just been released from a psychiatric ward), Rachel (who resents her mother and brings along her popular but non-Jewish boyfriend, Toby) and Eli (an overenthusiast who hops from one tech venture to another). The attempt to have a cohesive Seder meal is undermined by dramatic revelations, disunity and the escapades of their father, James.
Though all of the cast were excellent, special mentions must go to Ella and Eden, playing Debra and Asha respectively, who both gave outstanding performaces. Debra is an incredibly well written character by a writer who has clearly experienced the intense madness of a Jewish mother. Ella perfectly encapsulates the neurosis, pushiness and unorthodox love often shown by Jewish mothers. The acting did this role complete justice, demonstrating great comic timing, impressively controlled outbursts of anger and a unique ability to switch so quickly between moods.
Asha appeared to be a more interesting, troubled character with obvious mental health issues that were never openly addressed, perhaps as a critique of the lack of openness surrounding mental health issues. She opened the play with a lengthy monologue that set the tone for the play and introduced her as a central figure. This was delivered with a perfect blend of defensive humour and vulnerability that made the character instantly relatable. With a permanent scowl and slumped posture, Eden delivered the role of moody teenager perfectly.
With many nods to Jewish heritage that made all Jewish audience members smile with recognition, it really was a ‘proudly Jewish’ play as it was advertised to be. Though the ‘Jewish’ music played prior to the play and in the interval felt a tad contrived to an attuned Jewish ear, it helped to create a solidly Jewish setting. Careful attention to detail was paid, with real Kedem grape juice on the table and even real Passover Haggadot (prayer books). There were also frequent Jewish-themed jokes which struck a chord with me in a way that not many plays do and I was appreciative of the strength of this association with my culture. However, this did lead me to question how much relevance these would have had to a non-Jewish audience member and I wonder if some of the more niche jokes may have gone over their heads.
The only slight disappointments I experienced were from a scene between sisters Asha and Rachel in which their intimacy seemed forced and unnatural and a pregnancy joke failed to land successfully, as well as the end of the play which seemed a bit rushed and, in its effort to neatly tie up all loose ends, ended on a bizarre note which caused the play as a whole to lose some of its realism.
All in all, the play strikes a careful balance between jovial comedy and underlying familial issues. Whilst prompting audible laughs every few lines from multiple audience members, it also provided moments of tension aided by lighting changes which left us in apprehensive silence. It did well to provide an interesting social commentary on the waning fidelity to Jewish values, the breakdown of the family unit and the need for mental health issues to be more openly addressed whilst also providing much comic relief. I would highly recommend, especially to any Jewish students, that you catch this show on 8th or 9th March while you still can as it’s not one to miss!
4 stars out of 5.