Director: Alan Swerdlow
Cast: Robert Fridjohn, Johan Baird, Sivan Raphaely, Daniella Lacob
Venue: Studio Theatre Montecasino
Dates: Until February 4
If you can throw logic out and keep in mind that this is light romantic comedy in a modern Orthodox kind of way, this one will work for you.
The changes in character are fast and snappy without as much as a whimper as four Jewish New Yorkers try to meet and match their perfect mates.
The one couple, Ben (Baird) and Hannah (Raphaely) have already met and in fact are introduced to the male, Hershel (Fridjohn) of the second couple, when Ben tries to buy an engagement ring.
What he hasn't prepared for is an Orthodox Jewish lad arriving with a yarmulke sporting New York Yankee insignia. It's all a bit confusing but Ben finally purchases the ring, arrives home and has just proposed to Hannah, when Hershel arrives in the apartment to stay.
Don't worry too much about the plot because it shifts around quite easily to suit a smart line as do the personalities of the people involved. But really, it doesn't matter all that much in a frothy kind of way. You're not going to get any real home truths in this one.
It's great to have four young actors on stage with some given more to work with than others. Fridjohn, as the fast-talking, hustling, diamond salesman Hershel, has a great time in a part with some crazy talk and fun characterisation. He makes the best of it and steals most of the laughs.
The best moments are between him and his prospective wife Rachel (Lacob) with the actress not given much time to make her mark but a wonderful character to play with.
And she does, from the word go. Baird and Raphael are a different story. The two actors are really the straight guys for Hershel's antics and they haven't found their rhythm yet. Their roles are less flashy yet hopefully it won't take them too long to walk the walk.
More than anything though, this is light-hearted fare well-suited for this time of year. It will possibly find its mark best in the Jewish community and it should work well with a young audience, so if you want some light-hearted banter, you could do worse.