Not sure what comedians to see at this year’s Fringe? This showcase provides a satisfying taster of the Jewish (and Jew-ish) acts performing
For a show that’s been running at the Fringe for the past eight years, you’d think it’d start getting a bit old by now. Far from it. The award-winning Jew-O-Rama maintains its freshness thanks to a rotating roster of guests and compere Philip Simon, 2015’s Jewish Comedian of the Year. His hosting style is lively and packed with one-liners, ensuring high spirits throughout.
He's joined by three Jewish comedians, plus a token gentile for balance (“and the grant money”), who have shows to promote at the festival, including Jew-O-Rama co-producer and self-professed BuJew (Buddhist Jew) Aaron Levene.
New Yorker Ben Miller – tall, thin and emitting a nervous energy – kicks things off, revealing that he dropped out of Hebrew school and never had a bar mitzvah. “That’s why I’ve been cursed with the body of a child,” he quips. Find him doing an hour of geology jokes in Volcano at Just the Tonic @ The Caves (until 25 Aug). Later we’re met with James Regal, who makes wisecracks about religion, marriage (or lack thereof), dating apps and Jewish porn. Catch his unique offering, LOLyamorous: A Speed-Dating Comedy Show, at Laughing Horse @ Eastside (until 25 Aug).
The standout, however, has to be non-Jew Will Davis (“I went home for Christmas – there’s a clue…”). His delivery is laidback and laboured, paired with a sloth-like character that effortlessly evokes laughter. He shares techniques on how best to overcome awkward social situations, like dropping the comment, “Oh…he’s dead now”, in any situation and witnessing the ensuing unravelling. See his hour about everything that’s not quite right with him in Wrongs at Just the Tonic @ The Caves (until 25 Aug).
The guests can of course be hit or miss, but the concept is faultless – promoting acts (majority Jewish) appearing around the festival that year. Plus, it’s free, which ought to keep the desire for it going for many more years of Fringe to come.
By Danielle Goldstein
Jew-O-Rama runs until Sunday 25 August. 5.15pm. FREE. PBH's Free Fringe @ Whistlebinkies, EH1 1LL. tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jew-o-rama