Gamm’s “Bad Jews” is good—no, great!—play

Theatre Review by Don Fowler
Posted 3/21/23

“Today you get to see two plays for the price of one,” Tony Estrella told the sold-out opening performance audience of Joshua Harmon’s provocative play, “Bad Jews”.

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Gamm’s “Bad Jews” is good—no, great!—play

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“Today you get to see two plays for the price of one,” Tony Estrella told the sold-out opening performance audience of Joshua Harmon’s provocative play, “Bad Jews”.

Pickets were walking with placards that read “Take Down the Billboard”, protesting the words promoting the play which intellectually and emotionally deals head on with prejudice, faith, religious tradition and family.

Tony invited them in to see the play,

 citing freedom of speech and censorship issues.

Having seen Harmon’s play about college admissions (“Admissions”) a couple of years ago, and impressed with his writing, I was eager to see “Bad Jews”.

Harmon offers up an intense, funny, often dark play that will grab you by the throat and never let go.

The plot revolves around three Jewish cousins brought together by the death of their grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, who are passionate about which one should get a treasured heirloom.

They gather after the funeral in Jonah’s (Hillel Rosenshine) New York studio apartment.

Jonah’s brother Liam arrives late, having missed the funeral while on a ski trip with his Christian girlfriend, Melody (Nora Eschenheimer).

Sarah Corey gives an incredible performance (as do the other three) as Daphna, a devout Jew who attacks Liam’s girlfriend and then Liam himself as she loudly and insidiously fights for her grandfather’s heirloom.

There are so many layers to the play, which is performed in one two-hour act that never lets up in intensity in a confining,slightly slanted set.

The question of what constitutes a “Bad Jew” and a “Good Jew” is discussed  as one issue leads to another until the final resolution.

“Bad Jews” is one of those rare plays that has you glued to the stage, trying not to miss a word or the reactions of all four characters

to each other.

The acting and direction by Tony Estrella is far superior to anything I have seen on a Rhode Island stage so far this year.

“Bad Jews” runs through March 26 at Gamm, 1245 Jefferson Blvd. in Warwick Call today for tickets at 723-4266 because this one is sure to be a sellout.

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