My Son the Waiter, A Jewish Tragedy NYC Reviews and Tickets

78%

(21 Reviews)

Positive

90%

Mixed

10%

Negative

Members say

Funny, Entertaining, Clever, Delightful, Ambitious

About the Show

Actor/comedian Brad Zimmerman's solo show is about the grit and passion required to 'make it' as an artist and the sweet rewards that come from never giving up on your dream.

Brad Zimmerman moved to New York City and “temporarily” waited tables for 29 years, while continuing to pursue his dream of comedic acting. In this part standup/part theatrical piece Brad tells a story of his lengthy journey to make it as an actor in New York, sending up his childhood, his family, his misbegotten love life, and his career.

Member Reviews (21)

Funny, Cliched, Old jokes

See it if you like Borscht Belt humor...and are willing to hear Brad pitch his dating profile. He's funny, but seems bitter. He's lookin' for love...

Don't see it if and success (what else is new in NYC?) I'd heard some of the jokes before, but the evening was enjoyable. Not a must-see, but entertaining.

Entertaining, Funny, Quirky, Great writing

See it if You enjoy comedy and a one man show about someone's life. Very well done.

Don't see it if You don't want to hear about his guy's life or troubles. But he is very amusing and it's a fun evening.

Clever, Entertaining, Hilarious, Delightful

See it if you enjoy good standup comedy.

Don't see it if humor directed to a New York audience has no appeal for you.

Clever, Entertaining, Funny, Great writing, Relevant

See it if if you like to be delightfully entertained

Don't see it if you don'y appreciate Jewish Humor. Read more

Clever, Delightful, Entertaining, Funny, Hilarious

See it if you enjoy a solo performance in a club setting-a comedian telling the story of his life, finally succeeding in spite of his Jewish mother.

Don't see it if You don't enjoy some Jewish humor, or don't want to add a 2-drink minimum on to the price of your ticket

Clever, Delightful, Entertaining, Funny, Quirky

See it if You enjoy stand-up comedy. It's moreso that than theatre. Jew jokes are plentiful, but not too much. I really enjoyed this.

Don't see it if You are annoyed at paying for a two drink minimum (and it's pricy for just a bottle of water), or don't like standup.

Ambitious, Cliched, Funny, Biographical, Sensitive

See it if you enjoy Borscht belt style comedy and want to hear about the struggle to succeed.

Don't see it if you're tired of hearing about a son disappointing his parents by not being a doctor, lawyer, etc.

Delightful, Funny

See it if You like to laugh. Funny storytelling.

Don't see it if You don't like a one-man show.

Critic Reviews (7)

"Brad Zimmerman may well have brought many of us a salad or a mac and cheese once. Now, in “My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy,” he brings us the story of his failure, and it’s pretty delicious...Much of this amiable 90-minute set is distinctly original and bittersweetly on target."
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"Zimmerman is a joy to watch. Possessing an extreme sense of ease onstage, he makes the audience feel right at home. He immediately strikes a perfect balance of self-deprecating humor and observational comedy. And boy does he know how to land a joke. The audience is actually brought to the point of applause quite a few times throughout the show."
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For a previous production

"Much of the humor is built on his self-described contempt and resentment for others less talented or more fortunate,. The show is part confessional, part therapy session and part black comedy and the laser-focused, hyper-articulate Zimmerman demands your attention. Thankfully, his story is so compelling, you’ll want to sit forward, listen and laugh."
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For a previous production

"Brad Zimmerman arrived in New York City in 1978 to pursue a career as an actor. Instead, he spent the next 29 years as a waiter. The experience helped shape a finely-honed, one-man show that had the audience laughing throughout the 70-minute performance. His style of delivery is direct, but conversational; deliberate, yet leisurely."
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For a previous production

"A play about an actor who has to wait tables in a restaurant for 29 years seems more dramatic than funny. But in the hands of actor/comedian Brad Zimmerman, "My Son the Waiter" is hilarious. The one man play invokes nostalgia of his life and Jewish roots. Zimmerman works without props or music and engages the audience though his timing and comic mannerisms as well as a true story."
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For a previous production

"“My Son the Waiter” is more a string of vignettes, padded out with club-worthy bits on such topics as airplane food and reality television.It’s all funny stuff, but one gets the sense that Zimmerman is reachingfor something more ambitious.Which is admirable, really. After all, this is a story about the value of perseverance. Being an artist is about the journey, not the destination."
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For a previous production

"Well-paced and only occasionally corny, My Son The Waiter, A Jewish Tragedy may not leave you aching from laughter, but its smart writing has enough humor to it that you’ll be rooting for Brad while getting plenty of solid chuckles."
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