"Bad Jews" a blistering dramedy of how family and cultural values clash

Jake Goldsbie (left) and Sarah Segal-Lazar

It is not an uncommon thing that following the death of a loved one, the rest of the family spend more time squabbling than mourning. So instead of remembering and cherishing the recently departed's memory, those family members will fight a pitched battle to see who will inherit what from the estate, or rather, who is more deserved of those heirlooms in question. That is one of the main focusses of Joshua Harmon's play "Bad Jews", which is now playing at the Segal Centre until May 29.  

(left to right): Sarah Segal-Lazar, Victoria Diamond and Jamie Elman

It takes place in a New York City apartment, where two brothers and their cousin temporarily co-habitate (with the older brother's girlfriend), immediately following the funeral of their beloved grandfather. The sticking point between cousin Daphna and older brother Liam is their grandfather's golden "Chai" necklace that he wore through the Holocaust (not to mention used as an engagement ring when he proposed to his wife after the war), and both of them want to inherit quite badly. 

Daphna believes that because she is a "good Jew" (due mainly to the fact that she is somewhat observant, not to mention her plans to make aliyah to Israel in the summer, where she intends to marry her boyfriend who is a soldier in the Israeli Army), she is the only grandchild who should be entitled to inherit the chai necklace. Not only does she energetically makes her case to why she must have grandfather's cherished necklace, she also makes the case why Liam should not. Basically, he is a "bad Jew" (and proud of it), and he should not be entitled to inherit the necklace because not only does he flout Jewish traditions and Jewish culture (he likes to eat non-kosher cookies during Passover), he also shows up to New York from a ski trip out west hours after the funeral. Liam believes that because he is the first born of the three grandchild, he has the divine right to inherit the necklace, which, like his grandfather, he plans to use to propose marriage to his Gentile girlfriend. The battle lines are now drawn: who is the better Jew over the other, and if such a thing is possible, who will win the coveted family heirloom as the prize?

Jamie Elman (left) and Jake Goldsbie

"Bad Jews" a blistering, raw dramedy of how family dynamics clashes with trying to preserve a cultural and religious legacy.The foursome that make up this cast is wonderful, especially Sarah Segal-Lazar (a Montreal singer/actress and Fringe Festival favorite) as Daphna, who gives a whirling dervish of a performance as she angrily, sarcastically and energetically spews her point-of-view on what it takes to be a good Jew. Jamie Elman (best known for his popular internet TV series "Yidlife Crisis") as Liam is her perfect foil, who equals Daphna when it comes to spewing out endless reams of angry rants on how wrong she is, in his rather vitriolic opinion. And Jake Goldsbie and Victoria Diamond are perfect as the somewhat "don't-get-me-involved" buffers between the battling Daphna and Liam. 

So whether you're Jewish or not, or experienced such ugly inheritance disputes following a death in the family, "Bad Jews" makes for a really good night at the theatre. Don't miss it! #‎badjewsmtl.