The Catskill Chronicle

Review by Carol Montana, photos provided

ELLENVILLE, NY – If you think it’s hard to find humor in the middle of a war, then you need to see Shadowland Theatre’s 2010 season opener. And if the title sounds like a joke, well, it’s supposed to, even though the comedy, written by Seth Rozin, is based on actual events.

John Petrowski and Reathel Bean play Zeblyan and Ishaq, the last two Jews in Kabul, Afghanistan. It is fairly obvious at the very beginning of the play, that these two hate each other with a fierce and unwavering determination.

“Zeb” and “Ish” are the ultimate odd couple, but because their synagogue has been destroyed in the war, and their Torah has been stolen by the Taliban, they create an uneasy and tenuous truce in order to recreate both.

Ishaq has memorized the entire Torah, complete with punctuation. And as he dictates it to Zeblyan, who serves as the scribe, the one-liners fly, fast and furious. As discarded paper litters the stage and grows ever deeper from scene to scene, the jokes and digs keep coming till the audience is nearly breathless with laughter. And when Zeblyan starts questioning the logic of the 10 Commandments, it’s fall-off-your-chair funny.

The rapid-fire dialogue is never ending: “Go to hell,” says one of the characters. “I’m already there,” is the answer. They even argue over whose turn it is to pray. It’s like watching a vaudeville act. “Want to hear my plan?” “Not unless it involves you spontaneously combusting!” Abbot and Costello, Laurel and Hardy – pick a comedy duo – are alive and well, and performing in Ellenville.

Petrowski and Bean’s comic timing is excellent. And it’s obvious they are having fun onstage. Their characterizations, combined with a perfect set, lighting, costumes and sound by Drew Francis, Jack Wade and Mark Krasnov, Pat Doherty, and Jeff Knapp respectively, and the masterful direction of James Glossman, convey a true sense of being in the middle of a war.

Performances of Two Jews Walk Into a War continue Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m., now through June 20, 2010.

Tickets are $28 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and $24 on Sunday. There’s a senior and student discount of $2 available to those that qualify.

Shadowland Theatre is located at 157 Canal Street in Ellenville. Reservations are recommended. Call 647-5511. For more information, visit the Web site at www.shadowlandtheatre.org.