It’s been observed elsewhere in these reviews that ‘there’s nothing wrong with entertainment’. Nor indeed with those who wish to entertain. Daniel Cainer gave a relaxed impression at what was clearly the tech-dress rehearsal for his show ‘Jewish Chronicles’. It might have been more accurately titled ‘Daniel Cainer’s songs of Jewish life and his own family’s in particular’ although this is probably a bit clumsy and lengthy for a Fringe programme entry.
Cainer’s laid-back style draws his audience into his experiences of Judaism and his semi-autobiographical tales of London Jewish life. Although here and there the lyrics feel as though they’re struggling toward the right side of assonance (i.e., they sort of rhyme), Cainer’s charm is such he’s quickly forgiven. His breezy delivery keeps this exploration of Jewish experience and character moving quickly on, and audiences are unlikely to get bored, although some goyim (non-Jews) may be confused by Cainer’s Yiddish phrases.
‘Jewish Chronicles’, however, is clearly not only for the Jewish, though those expecting a large amount of Biblical (or Talmudic) content are liable to be a tad disappointed. For it’s clearly in Jewish London that Cainer is most completely at home. His are not, it has to be said, the streets of Emmanuel Litvinoff’s ‘Journey Through a Small Planet’, far less where Wolf Mankowitz’s ‘A Kid for Two Farthings’ might have played. Closer to Jack Rosenthal’s ‘Bar Mitzvah Boy’ in spirit, Cainer’s characters are the devious and dubious individuals of Isaac Singer’s world transported to Highgate and Golder’s Green and none the worse for that. It may not be a world that everyone would wish to live in, but Cainer makes a visit well worth while.
Times: 6-31 August (not 17th), 2.00pm
copyright Bill Dunlop 2009