What’s Irish/Italian American, Orthodox Jewish, on Broadway and funny?
Written by Michael Vass
Comedy is timeless. It is as much of the human condition as breathing, it can be found in every culture and continent. I even was reading about some Ancient jokes going back to the pharaohs of Egypt and before…
“How do you get the Pharaoh to go out? But several maidens on a barge dressed in fishing nets and ask him to go fishing.”
Comedy is intrinsic to all of us. Whether you prefer Abbot and Costello’s Who’s On First, or Monty Python’s Dead Parrot Sketch, Robin Williams, or Richard Pryor, or perhaps even an Orthodox Jew.
Yes I said an Orthodox Jew.
I wasn’t aware that such a person existed either, until I read that he will be in a one-man play on Broadway in November. His man is Yisrael Campbell, the son of an Irish and an Italian parent – both of whom are very Catholic. Yisrael Campbell is obviously not your ordinary comic, nor Orthodox Jew.
Still that doesn’t stop him from being funny.
I think I have to acknowledge that I’ve stolen this book! I called the Broward County Library recently because I knew I was doing a show and I was going to talk about stealing a book, and I know Jews are very touchy about ethics; particularly other people’s ethics.
You weren’t going to sit idly by a book stealer. I called the Broward County Library and said, “I have your book. Send me 400 other books and I’ll send you your book.” That’s a Hezbollah joke.
I’ve got to be the only guy doing Hezbollah jokes! “
Of course some of his humor may not translate to those not from Israel or Jewish
“So I’m the Showmermers Vlal Schomershebat (phonetic) Conservative Convert and as long as I only cook with my cigarette smoking car-driving television-watching TV-talking non-observant room mate everything will be kosher.”
Then again there is no shortage of comedians who’s target audience is somewhat smaller than everybody. Like say Larry the Cable Guy, or Eddie Izzard (who is great). But that does not take away from their ability nor their talent to make us laugh out loud.
So if you are in New York in November, and you want to see something really different that you can share with friends that will stand out, this stand up comic just might be the ticket.
