Before the lights rose in the theater for Beau Jest, the familiar violin theme from Fiddler on the Roof filled the room. I was confused. What would this 1980s comedy about a mistaken fiancé have in common with a Russian Jewish family navigating politics and love?
Quite a bit, it turns out, in the best way.
Beau Jest is set in the heart of the ’80s, and there is so much to love about this alone. The play takes place entirely in the main character’s living room, and Sarah has a pretty impressive color scheme going on of mint, pink, and cream. She also has adorable ’80s outfits that perfectly match her home’s decor, a fact that is both hilarious and endearing. Sarah herself is a combination of Monica from Friends and Kimberly Williams from Father of the Bride, and from the start she has everyone–from the characters to the audience members–wrapped around her finger.
But sweet Sarah has a problem. She is in love with a nice guy (played by Jason Heil), but there is a major snag in their romance: he isn’t Jewish. Sarah is Jewish, and so most definitely are her parents, and she has reached that point in life when her mom calls her almost every day with a lament over her singleness or a suggestion for a potential life mate. She’s getting desperate.
With her family coming over for the start of Shabbat one evening, Sarah decides to take drastic measures: she hires a date from an escort service to play the part of her nice Jewish boyfriend. She picks a date with an equally nice Jewish last name — but is horrified to discover upon his arrival that he isn’t Jewish and really isn’t going to be able to pull of the whole Jewish boyfriend trick.
Except that optimistic Bob (played by Ross Hellwig) is an aspiring actor, and he is totally up for the challenge. She tells him that she’s told her parents he’s a doctor and that his name is David, and then the doorbell rings and the game is on.
Sarah’s family is brilliantly and hilariously stereotyped in the best way, right down to their meticulous and marvelous ’80s outfits. Her brother Joel (played by the incredible Omri Shein — I want to see a lot more of him!) had the audience in stitches from the moment he strutted into the living room, doffing his coat to reveal a phenomenal sweater and opinionated swagger. Sarah’s parents arrive soon afterwards, her mother (played by the talented Sandy Campbell) immediately fussing that the dish she brought be put in the oven at 350 and not the microwave, and her father (played by the familiar and wonderful John Rosen) bemoaning the fact that they spent one hour looking for parking.
The Shabbat meal commences with many near-misses for poor Bob, the non-Jewish imposter, but he is quick-witted and enjoying the charade.
“So what kind of surgeon are you?” Joel asks David/Bob.
“Oh, you know,” David/Bob stalls, “whatever comes up. Hearts… brains….”
“What do you like best?”
“Oh, you know… hearts. I love hearts.”
Sarah and David/Bob scrape by that evening — well enough that it’s worth another try at another family dinner. Pretty soon poor Sarah is in way over her head with this farce, and her family is falling head over heels in love with Dr. David. When will the fantasy end? Will Sarah ever have the heart to disappoint her parents? Or will she even need to?
For anyone who has ever feared the wrath of one’s parents or fallen in love with the wrong person — here is a slap-your-knee comedy that will keep the entire audience laughing through two hours of fine drama. My friend and I were seated next to a group of Jewish men in the audience, and they were laughing harder than all of us. This, and the heart-warming and universally relatable humor of the story, made me think the playwright knew exactly what he was talking about.
Add to the good story the excellent set, the ’80s decor (That coffee thermos! That Corningware! So many memories!), and the pitch-perfect acting, and you have a winner. Lamb’s Players has done it again — here’s some light fare that tells a good story well.
This excellent play wraps up on February 12, giving you only about three more weeks to catch it before it’s gone forever. Don’t forget that patrons under 35 and active duty military always get tickets for half price. More ticket information and show times on the Lamb’s Players website here.
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