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'A Jewish Joke' is amazing

Stepping onto a stage solo is like bungee jumping without a harness. Free falling the artist either soars or crashes to earth. The experience of holding onto a thread is wild yet exhilarating. Sometimes terrifying. It takes such courage to step on, stand up and undress in front of family, friends and strangers in order to expose the art. If you have never dared to take that step (figuratively, not literally off the edge of a bridge) it might not occur that what can happen on stage is living, breathing art.

Even if you don't like the work of Warhol or Pollack, it is that "work" that becomes the awe of which is held in such high esteem. Tucked in the back of a parking lot across town, not far from U.C. San Diego, Moxie Theatre is the house for this amazing work of live art. Written by two local talents, Marni Freedman and Phil Johnson, "A Jewish Joke" was brought from the page to the stage by none other than co-writer Phil Johnson. He, by the way, is not a joke. Johnson is one of the areas most renowned characters...both on and off the stage based on his opening night audience. Phil (yes, I have met him) takes the every man and makes him every man. You can see him think. Watching him is a master class in acting. Every actor tries to find his character's heart. In the case of Bernie Lutz, Johnson has found his soul. Even his quirks develop his beloved character. Ah, that is it, Johnson is a class unto his own. One can only wonder, as in this case, is fiction always made up and non-fiction always fact? Or is really good fiction based on truth whether it be a known fact or just assumed? For instance, what about in the case of Bernie Lutz? Bernie is a studio writer for MGM back in the 1950's. He and his writing partner, Maurice (who have known each other since they were 13), are about to be celebrated as the writing duo for tonight's premiere opening in Hollywood. Their first. Bernie Lutz is a joke writer. "'Knock, knock. Who's there?' That was mine," he quips. Bernie creates comedy for the Marx Brothers, develops scripts for NBC and even occasionally lunches with the likes of Lana Turner on the lot. Pretty good for a putz from New Jersey. According to Bernie, "comedy is a man in trouble." Like "what did the waiter ask the table of Jewish ladies? Is anything okay?" While it is a really exciting day for Bernie hectically fielding phone calls from friends, coworkers and superiors, his concern for his writing partner is perplexing. We are witness to the complications of the McCarthy era events as they unfold and affect friendships, challenge ethics ("I don't care about the plight of the common man"), and how individual livelihoods were affected.

Real? Or fiction? Good fiction should be laced with a bit of the truth as painted by the master, Mr. Johnson.

Directed by David Ellenstein, produced by Siri Elena, applauded by those in attendance, "A Jewish Joke" isn't. To move the magic on stage forward, Chloe Clark designed the lighting, Matt Lescault-Wood the sound, Jordyn Smiley, costumes, and handling the gargantuan job of property manager is Bonnie Durben. "A Jewish Joke" plays at the Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd. until April 8. The box office can be reached at (619) 728-7820 or [email protected]. See it before it tours across the country even all the way to Off-Broadway!

This wonderfully performed, thought provoking (is that phrase overworked?)

performance is rated 9 out of 10.

The writer can be reached at [email protected].

 

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