David Rose: Our Hebrew Friend

Given the issues confronting our world at the moment, the show’s title may be considered as courageous. David Rose, according to Ancestry. com is 15% Ashkenazi Jew. For the uninitiated, this is a Jewish diaspora population originating from the Rhine River in Germany and Northern France, representing the majority of the world's Jewish population today. They are defined by a distinct cultural, linguistic (Yiddish), and genetic heritage that blends Middle Eastern and European origins. Rose has a ‘very Jewish’ wife and mother-in-law, had a Jewish wedding, attended a Catholic school, and is not circumcised. The things that you learn in 50 minutes! All in all, his Jewish pedigree is rather like being ‘a little bit pregnant’!

He does, however, hold the comedic heritage trump card, being the great-grandson of one of the world’s most famous, and well-paid early 20^th century Jewish comedians, Julian Rose. Julian was not a Jewish impersonator, but was a Jewish comic who harnessed, and challenged the still often referred to Jewish stereotype of Fagin from Dickens ‘Oliver Twist’. Known as a Hebrew impersonator, he created an upper-class Jewish persona that was neither ill-educated or coarse, appearing at the London Tivoli, Royal Variety and Russian royal court concerts. He was, however, mercilessly provocative, harnessing the Jewish philosophy that when the going gets tough, Jews laugh.

I am not a fan of the commonly used patter style that many stand-up comedians use where there is a snippet of talk, a joke is delivered, the audience reacts and this is then repeated throughout the routine. Rose, in contrast, has a relaxed style akin to that of Jerry Seinfeld. The humour appears to be an almost incidental part of his carefully researched story, appearing to be ‘off the cuff’, but in fact, incisively planned and planted. Yes, there are obvious byplays with the audience, including engaging in a chat with a non- Jewish boyfriend, now dubbed as a ‘goy-friend’(a non-Jew or gentile). But the show is structured so that humour is used to underline a complex story and gently poke and prod assumptions and beliefs about what it is to be Jewish, then, and now.

This show, presented in a laconic Aussie style is engaging, relevant, non-threatening and reflective of both Australian wit, and the unique Jewish idiom. Delivery is fluent and relaxed. Rose is a storyteller whose carefully scripted narrative, augmented by historical pictures and clips, is peppered with both subtle, and more confronting humour, and when that is about to happen, he warns the audience with a wry grin. He also avoids focussing on the poignant and painful but could not resist joking about first-responders at the tragic Bondi shooting during the Jewish festival of Hannukah last year, being thanked by giving them a ham.

Rose deserves a good size audience to interact with who appreciate this unique, funny and timely story. The season is short, and ironically is performed in The Squeaker, a ‘pig-themed’ open air venue. Rose is not yet ‘on a pig's back’, but this show really does ‘bring home the comedy bacon’.

Jude Hines

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