When I was asked to go and review A Big Day For The Goldbergs at
the New End Theatre in Hampstead I absolutely jumped at the
opportunity. What could be better than a play involving lesbians
and The Archers, I thought to myself? And where you get salmon and
cream cheese bagels at the end? I'm in.
ABDFTG is set in Leeds and centres around a Jewish family
consisting of two sisters, Lucille and Michelle (Michele is played
by Amy Schindler who plays Brenda Tucker in The Archers, for those
of you that are interested), and their neurotic mother Denise,
whose answer to most things is "BECAUSE I'M YOUR MOTHER!" and is so
highly-strung that she relies on breathing exercises to calm
herself down after the most basic activities, such is the strain of
modern-day living - but that said, juggling land-lines and mobiles
can get stressful sometimes...
The family unit is beautifully dysfunctional and easily reminded
me of my own, just with extra exclamations of "oh em G dash D",
from time to time. We are shown two sisters who are evidently close
but also completely different characters. On the one hand, there is
Lucille, busy planning the wedding of the year to an eligible
Jewish bachelor, whilst Michele has bigger ideas than just settling
down and getting hitched under the chuppah.
As well as some brilliantly observed coming-out moments, that
I'm sure everyone who sees this play could relate to, the play
tackles some interesting issues, including inter-faith
relationships, the acceptance of mental health problems within the
Jewish community who often would prefer to turn a blind eye, and
the topic of homosexuality and coming out in a community where
historically, change and progressive thinking have often been
kicked back at. And this isn't just my opinion, as a non-Jew I am
hardly in a position to comment on life as a gay woman in a Jewish
family, but it was clearly voiced by a Jewish audience member in
the front row, who when Denise complained about the difficulties of
living in a community where alternative lifestyles are not always
accepted, shouted out, "You're not kidding!" much to the amusement
of the rest of the us. It actually just affirmed the need for this
play, which whilst not ground-breaking or shocking, gives a
platform for these dialogues in a lighthearted and accessible
way.
When: until 31 July 2011
Where: New End Theatre
27 New End
Hampstead
London
NW3 1JD
Price: £12/14
Box Office: 0870 033 2733
www.newendtheatre.co.uk
