A Jewish Joke

See it if enjoy one-man, one act plays, curious about the Hollywood blacklist, learn how writing partners work, feel for movie business in the 50's

Don't see it if don't like one person plays, want a play that delves really deeply into the Blacklist, don't like plays where most action occurs over phone

See it if you like solo performances dealing with the black list era of the 1950's. If you know nothing about the era, it might be hard to follow.

Don't see it if you do not like solo shows.

See it if You enjoy thoughtful heart felt political commentary that is still relevant.

Don't see it if You aren’t interested in one man shows.

See it if You like Jewish humor. There where some good lines. The show was otherwise very slow and really could have been trimmed down.

Don't see it if You want a fast moving show which is not stop funny. Don’t see if you don’t like one man shows.

See it if A thoughtful depiction of a scary period in our history that we have much to learn from. Some very funny old jokes.

Don't see it if One man show that can be slow with annoying use of the telephone.

See it if You generally enjoy one person show. It's hard to pull it off although I have been to many good ones...I would think it was a bit too long🤔

Don't see it if You are tired and very sleepy or not feeling well.😷

See it if you like a good story. good acting.

Don't see it if you don't want to hear about McCarthy.

See it if you want to see censorship in action as it was practiced during the McCarthy era, competently told through the perspective of one writer.

Don't see it if you are turned off to one-man shows, schmaltzy Jewish humor, or the ramifications of political interference on creativity.

See it if The subject of Hollywood blacklisting interests you. Absorbing subject. You appreciate a one-man tour-de-force.

Don't see it if You do not like one man shows with simple setting. Might be confusing if you know nothing about the blacklist and “Red Channels”

See it if You enjoy one actor plays that are well written, sometimes humorous & enjoy old Jewish humor.

Don't see it if You can’t sit for 90 minutes without an intermission or are bored by no set changes for an entire play.

Also The play is 90 minutes with no intermission. Seats weren’t particularly comfortable in this small theatre & your view of the stage could be blocked by a tall person sitting in front of you. But the actor is excellent & he projects many emotions & loved that he breaks the fourth wall & reaches out to the audience to make us feel his joy or pain.... Read more Read less

See it if you like one person shows, and stories about blacklisting

Don't see it if you don't like one person shows, or you like your shows short. This one's long for a solo show, over 90 mins.

See it if you like great acting and period dramedys--once Johnson gets you, he gets you. Oh, and if you like classic Jewish jokes.

Don't see it if you like a lot of spectacle or you are expecting a stand-up comedian.

See it if If you are interested in the history of your parents, and if you want to travel back in time to see what devices they had growing up

Don't see it if If you don't like history or stories about history.

See it if you enjoy history, comedy, politics, one man shows with great acting. Entertaining/enjoyable action on a single set. His hard work pays off.

Don't see it if you're unable to sit quietly for 90 minutes (no intermission). Mostly a comedy but builds up to several serious moments

See it if Entertaining with some good jokes.

Don't see it if A bit slow moving and predictable.

See it if Terrific actor takes on a dark time in history - absorbing and moving performance. Eerily relevant to today’s political landscape.

Don't see it if If you just can’t stand one-man shows!

See it if You like relevant political drama that also makes you laugh. Reminds you that the times we live in are frighteningly close to history.

Don't see it if You’re anti-Semitic or dislike one person shows.

Also This was really well done though the point was a bit forced.

See it if Johnson (the actor) gives us blood, sweat & tears as 1950's comedy writer swept into Blacklist fever Performace is the catalyst of the drama

Don't see it if Johnson (the writer) does himself no favors with the static concept of "phone drama" Kills pace/often confuses Neat use of Yiddish humor tho

See it if One man show, he take you through a time in Hollywood that the government was blacklist people.

Don't see it if Some of the joke are quirky, and it is long to me.

Also A telephone ring in the show and after he tells a joke. My favorite is about the can of peaches. This may not be one of my favorite shows that I saw but this actor does good acting.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy political plots presented from a personal point of view & are interested in the McCarthy era and the Jewish or artistic experience

Don't see it if you are looking for a comedy or do not enjoy political plots, specifically about the McCarthy era. or you so not like one-man shows.

See it if One man piece about Hollywood black-listing interspersed with sweet if old jokes.

Don't see it if Rare for NYC, the material is better than the actor. This play deserves another production with a more nuanced portrayal.

See it if You like plays that take you to unexpected places and challenges both the character in the play and audience to make the right choices

Don't see it if You want a funny play. The joke is not really a joke but a deep look at a difficult time in our country

See it if Yes about the blacklist but it's just alluded to. This is a moral tale for our (or any) time. What will you do to keep a job? friend?

Don't see it if You don't want a moral challenge. You don't want to have to think You don't like 1 person shows You can't forgive bad jokes I knew every 1!

See it if you enjoy a show about blacklisting during the McCarthy era, lightened up with some Jewish humor.

Don't see it if don't enjoy one-man shows, Jewish humor, historical stories

Also A well-acted one-man show. He did a tremendous job of carrying the story for 90 minutes (not an easy task), at times talking to the audience and adding some Jewish jokes, some you've heard before... Read more Read less

See it if Actor works hard to carry the one man show. The emotions &dilemmas of McCarthy era come across &issues of discrimination are relevant today.

Don't see it if The incessant phone ringing and use of the one sided phone call and old jokes are distracting.