| About the Show - "a Jew-normous comedy" |
Slash Coleman has Big Matzo Balls is a hilarious and
poignant exploration of the playwright's experiences growing
up Jewish in the wake of his family's holocaust experience.
Inspired by the comedy of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin,
Woody Allen and Mr. Bean,award-winning playwright and
performer, Slash Coleman, delivers another winner with his
latest one man show and the long awaited follow up to last
year's hit,"The Neon Man and Me."
poignant exploration of the playwright's experiences growing
up Jewish in the wake of his family's holocaust experience.
Inspired by the comedy of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin,
Woody Allen and Mr. Bean,award-winning playwright and
performer, Slash Coleman, delivers another winner with his
latest one man show and the long awaited follow up to last
year's hit,"The Neon Man and Me."
| A Vue Shtet Geschreiber (pronounced, ah voo shtet geh-SHRIBE-er) |
|
Written & Performed by Slash Coleman Directed by Christine Walters |
| © Slash Coleman 2006 |
| " A Yiddish three-ring circus!" - Valley Haggard, Style Weekly "Destined to be a hit..." - John Porter (Theater Critic), NPR "Like Phillip Roth on acid!" - Sarah Millogo, jungleray.blogster |
| Slash Coleman has Big Matzo Balls |
| As Seen in the June Issue of Richmond Magazine |
| Friend Us at MySpace: myspace.com/bigmatzoballs |
(Sarah K. McDonald) Creativity runs in Slash Coleman's family. Prior to World War II, his grandfather
danced at the Moulin Rouge. But when the Germans invaded France, he was excluded from the arts
because he was Jewish. So he joined the French Resistance while Coleman's mother and
grandmother retreated to the hills until the family moved to Norfolk by way of Ellis Island in 1944.
Coleman's Grandmother became an atheist, but his grandfather stuck by his faith. Thus two sides of
the family were born: what Coleman calls the "super Jews" and the "sort of Jews." Coleman grew up
in the latter category - it was ingrained in him "not to tell anyone you were Jewish or you would die."
danced at the Moulin Rouge. But when the Germans invaded France, he was excluded from the arts
because he was Jewish. So he joined the French Resistance while Coleman's mother and
grandmother retreated to the hills until the family moved to Norfolk by way of Ellis Island in 1944.
Coleman's Grandmother became an atheist, but his grandfather stuck by his faith. Thus two sides of
the family were born: what Coleman calls the "super Jews" and the "sort of Jews." Coleman grew up
in the latter category - it was ingrained in him "not to tell anyone you were Jewish or you would die."
A set of balls has come to
represent audacity, courage,
and valour.
represent audacity, courage,
and valour.
| Read the review: Richmond.com |
Encouraged to live in his “Jewish Closet” by both his mother and grandparents
who survived the holocaust, Slash must decide whether to live a limited life in
his closet or risk losing his family’s support by telling his story of what it means
to be Jewish.
who survived the holocaust, Slash must decide whether to live a limited life in
his closet or risk losing his family’s support by telling his story of what it means
to be Jewish.
The playwright/performer behind The Neon Man and Me kept his Jewishness in the closet, or he tried to - he was "outed" and
beaten up by two girls in junior high school. The tragic, yet hilarious occurrence is just one of many stories you'll find in
Slash Coleman's newest work, "Slash Coleman has Big Matzo Balls. The humorous production, which comes full circle with
Coleman's nephews bar mitzvah, will be performed at ComedySportz Improv Theatre on June 22, 23, 29, and 30 at 10 pm.
tickets are $10. 7115 Staples Mill Rd. 804-266-9377.
beaten up by two girls in junior high school. The tragic, yet hilarious occurrence is just one of many stories you'll find in
Slash Coleman's newest work, "Slash Coleman has Big Matzo Balls. The humorous production, which comes full circle with
Coleman's nephews bar mitzvah, will be performed at ComedySportz Improv Theatre on June 22, 23, 29, and 30 at 10 pm.
tickets are $10. 7115 Staples Mill Rd. 804-266-9377.
photos: Dave Miller
| Richmond Magazine |
The Yiddish phrase above means, “Where is it written? Who says it's so?” In other
words, "Who says it has to be this way - why can't it be the other way?”
Since the debut of my production, "The Super Jews," have been giving me constant
flak about reducing the number of calories in the Holocaust. They would rather have
the extra fat version sitting on top of our Heeb hearts like it has for past fifty-odd years.
Some have even said I have no right to make jokes about it. These are the same Jew
descendants that probably fought tooth and nail when the telephone was about to be
replaced by the smoke signal.
words, "Who says it has to be this way - why can't it be the other way?”
Since the debut of my production, "The Super Jews," have been giving me constant
flak about reducing the number of calories in the Holocaust. They would rather have
the extra fat version sitting on top of our Heeb hearts like it has for past fifty-odd years.
Some have even said I have no right to make jokes about it. These are the same Jew
descendants that probably fought tooth and nail when the telephone was about to be
replaced by the smoke signal.
To those of you who are uncomfortable about the idea of laughing about the Holocaust you should
know that those of us who question society, who question whatever is traditional, always ask the
question, "Where is it written?" The most brilliant people in the world are always the ones who ask
that question. They are the real doubters of tradition, who evaluate society on the most basic terms.
They create new directions and new paths for our society to go in. They think of ways to exist that no
one ever thought of before.
Just because a bird flies south, does it mean I cant? Where is it written? I'll tell you where it's
written. It's written in my blog. Visit me at myspace.com/bigmatzoballs and you can read all about
this wonderful controversy and more. Are you a cheesy grit or a matzo ball - now, that is the eternal
question, isn't it?
know that those of us who question society, who question whatever is traditional, always ask the
question, "Where is it written?" The most brilliant people in the world are always the ones who ask
that question. They are the real doubters of tradition, who evaluate society on the most basic terms.
They create new directions and new paths for our society to go in. They think of ways to exist that no
one ever thought of before.
Just because a bird flies south, does it mean I cant? Where is it written? I'll tell you where it's
written. It's written in my blog. Visit me at myspace.com/bigmatzoballs and you can read all about
this wonderful controversy and more. Are you a cheesy grit or a matzo ball - now, that is the eternal
question, isn't it?
Purchase your
tickets to
Slash Coleman
has Big Matzo
Balls
July 20 - 27, 2008
Capital Fringe
Festival
Washington, DC
tickets to
Slash Coleman
has Big Matzo
Balls
July 20 - 27, 2008
Capital Fringe
Festival
Washington, DC