by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
Want an idea for a fantastic Christmas present? How about a couple of airline tickets to New York, a hotel room and tickets to the three year hit comedy Jewtopia?
Too rich for your pocketbook? The next best idea is a new book entitled Jewtopia that has been specially marked down for you from $ 25.00 to 24.99!!!
Why should you buy this book? First it was written by a Jacksonville native, Sam Wolfson, with his artistic partner Bryan Fogel. They also wrote the very successful play, and appeared in the leading roles in over 1,000 performances in Los Angeles and in New York. They still occasionally do the play but they have been busy writing this book and negotiating the movie rights to Jewtopia. The play has been running for three years to packed houses, and show no signs of slowing down any time soon. I saw it in the opening year and reviewed it for Entertaining U.
I know your first question is: WHAT IS THE PLAY ABOUT? It is the story of a gentile who wanted to marry a Jewish girl so he will never have to make another decision. In the play Sam teaches Bryan how to be Jewish with hilarious results.
IS THE BOOK DIFFERENT THAN THE PLAY? Yes, it could be called the ultimate guide to Judaism, presented in a farcical and irreverent style. It has lots of illustrations and pictures, always good in our visually oriented society, and they are funny!
IS THE BOOK FUNNY? Yes, it is possibly the funniest I have ever read, and I know it is the most humorous book I have ever purchased at a cost of about eleven cents per page (there are 214 of them).
I feel I must qualify funny. If you liked the movie “Borat” or you enjoy going to comedy clubs, watching The Early Show, Steven Colbert, or Saturday Night Live then you will absolutely go wild about Jewtopia. It is not a suitable gift for everyone, as it has a lot of profanity and sexual situations.
DO YOU HAVE TO BE JEWISH TO ENJOY IT? No, but you will learn a lot, as you laugh, and you may want to Google the facts if you are buying the book strictly for information, as Sam and Bryan have played fast and loose with a lot of information.
I am sure you have heard of the plays “Nunsense and Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up, both have been very popular shows over the years, and they are mainly about Catholics, but at least half of the audiences are made up of non-Catholics. I rest my case, you could love it, no matter what you are or what planet you are from.
I, though, was just going to sit down and read this book from cover to cover, but I found it is better to pick and choose a different topic for a few minutes each day. One of my favorite features is Phone Conversations with Jewish Mothers which has eight sections throughout the book. They are conversations the authors Sam and Bryon actually had with their mothers. I have read all of these and I loved them.
The book covers such diverse topics as Jewish Guide to Life (from Bar Mitzvahs to Bowels) and Jewish Foods (do you know what gefilte fish really is?) It even has a final exam on the last couple of pages. (I have not taken it yet, I am still studying.)
This book has found a permanent place in my residence. I keep in it the porcelain room, for ready reference when I need a laugh to brighten my day.
The authors spent sixteen months working with artists and other creative people to create a unique book that deserves a place on every coffee table, especially if you like to have interesting conversations with your guests.
Jewtopia is available at all the major bookstores. You can get more information by putting the title into any Internet search engine. Or, if I have not convinced you to buy this book as a present, why don’t you call Bryan Fogel’s mother Linda at (303) 575-1388 or Sam Wolfson’s mother Arlene at (904) 346-1146 and let them persuade you. They welcome your comments about the show in New York, if you have had the chance to see it, or your own review of the book after you read it. These numbers are REAL, and on the back of the book. (Yes, they will call you back, honest!)
I caught up with Sam and his mother Arlene at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore book signing in Mandarin. That was a big success and I now believe everything is the book is true! (Well almost). They convinced me that it is a chosen book for special people!!
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