REVIEW: "My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm In Therapy""

A Review

Returning To Your Funny Roots

By R. J. Donovan

Watching Steve Solomon onstage in his one-man show, "My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm In Therapy," is a little like slipping your foot into a favorite old slipper. It's warm and familiar.

The premise of the intermissionless show is that we're with Solomon in his therapist's waiting room. As he patiently waits his turn with the good doctor, he shares with the audience many of the things that make him crazy -- all of which revolve around his family. And all of whom we get to meet over the hour and half he spends on stage.

As the title of the show says, his Mom's Italian and his Dad's Jewish. So right away there's a multi-ethnic culture clash. And as Steve is in his fifties, his parents are obviously elderly. Which means this is a show aimed at an older audience. As such, the night relies on things like family traditions, old world values, hearing loss, cab drivers, retirement in Florida, airport security, keeping kosher, tough guy wannabes, sex education for his kids and so on. All of which got a roaring reaction from the crowd.

Not a whole lot of new ground is covered, but it plays well, mostly as an extended stand-up routine. And Solomon delivers it nicely, aided by comical dialects and vocal impressions of everyone from his parents to his ex-wife, his sister the smoker, cousin Carmine, Uncle Paulie, demented Kenny and more.

So while it's nice to have a shiny new pair of shoes for a special occasion, it's also nice to come home at night and put on that comfy pair of slippers.

"My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm In Therapy," is at the Cutler Majestic Theatre through August 2. For information, call 617-824-8000.

-- OnStage Boston

07/29/09

			A Review Returning To Your Funny Roots By R. J. Donovan Watching Steve Solomon onstage in his one-man show, "My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm In Therapy," is a little like slipping your foot into a favorite old slipper. It's warm and familiar. The premise of the intermissionless show is that we're with Solomon in his therapist's waiting room. As he patiently waits his turn with the good doctor, he shares with the audience many of the things that make him crazy -- all of which revolve around his family. And all of whom we get to meet over the hour and half he spends on stage. As the title of the show says, his Mom's Italian and his Dad's Jewish. So right away there's a multi-ethnic culture clash. And as Steve is in his fifties, his parents are obviously elderly. Which means this is a show aimed at an older audience. As such, the night relies on things like family traditions, old world values, hearing loss, cab drivers, retirement in Florida, airport security, keeping kosher, tough guy wannabes, sex education for his kids and so on. All of which got a roaring reaction from the crowd. Not a whole lot of new ground is covered, but it plays well, mostly as an extended stand-up routine. And Solomon delivers it nicely, aided by comical dialects and vocal impressions of everyone from his parents to his ex-wife, his sister the smoker, cousin Carmine, Uncle Paulie, demented Kenny and more. So while it's nice to have a shiny new pair of shoes for a special occasion, it's also nice to come home at night and put on that comfy pair of slippers. "My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm In Therapy," is at the Cutler Majestic Theatre through August 2. For information, call 617-824-8000. -- OnStage Boston 07/29/09

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