‘Just for Us’: Edelman hits Jewish funnybone

‘JUST FOR US’: Alex Edelman. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

JUST FOR US
Written by Alex Edelman
Directed by Adam Brace
Through August 19, 2023
Hudson Theatre
141 West 44th Street
(855-801-5876), www.JustForUsShow.com

By David NouNou

Starting with a Robin Williams joke, ending with attending a White Nationalist get-together in Queens, New York, and in between a tale of Santa attending his Orthodox Jewish family’s home at Christmas time—these are some of the anecdotes Alex Edelman regales the audience with in Just for Us. He has written this solo monologue about his “Jewishness” and his Orthodox family, the trials and tribulations of being Jewish, and the different degrees of being Jewish. What makes this tale of the Jewish experience so much fun is its freshness and sincerity.

Mr. Edelman is a comedy writer, born in the WASP part of Boston to a Jewish family, who had to make a lot of changes in his life starting with his long Hebrew name, condensed to Alex Edelman. What is unique to Mr. Edelman’s humor is the dark humor infused in his material. As the saying goes, “He’s not afraid to go there.” He can laugh at life’s foibles and ironies. His impish, boyish looks also help maneuver this slippery slope between comedy and reality. He is mischievous and manic which in many instances heightens the humor.

Director Adam Brace (who passed away on April 29, 2023) was working with Mr. Edelman for a long time, fine-tuning this comedic gem. They trimmed it to 90 minutes of constant merriment. The pace is nonstop, and Mr. Edelman is in total control of the stage and his charm makes the evening that much more pleasurable.

Most Jewish humor came from what was known as the Borscht Belt. Would-be comics went to the Catskills to test, and sometimes pilfer, material from other Jewish comics, to use on their Jewish audiences who went there for their summer vacations. Having played in Melbourne, Australia, at the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland, Soho in London, off-Broadway, and finally to the Hudson Theatre, here in New York, Just for Us has managed to hit the comedy spot in various continents. With antisemitism on the rise, to Mr. Edelman’s credit, he has cleverly taken Jewish humor and translated it to 21st century humor. It is great seeing younger and older audience members enjoying the same humor. Whether the material is related to social media or Chanukah, everyone was getting the humor, everyone was in on the fun. Kudos to Mr. Edelman for bridging the gap between the young and the old.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published July 6, 2023
Reviewed at July 5, 2023 press performance.

‘JUST FOR US’: Alex Edelman. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

‘JUST FOR US’: Alex Edelman. Photo: Matthew Murphy.