Beau Jest - UK Premiere

Showing: 7 May 2008 - 1 June 2008

“A light sweet romantic comedy” Chicago Tribune

“Hilarious and quite moving, Sherman wonderfully blends farce with genuine insight.”
Chicago Sun Times

“Very Funny…The well crafted play has a lot to say about nuclear families of any ethnic persuasion.” Wall Street Journal

Chicago. Late 1980’s.

Think Sleepless In Seattle. Think shoulder pads. Think Cyndi Lauper

This May the Hackney Empire Theatre proudly presents its next homegrown production, James Sherman’s hit rom-com Beau Jest which played to sell out audiences Off-Broadway.

Mr and Mrs Goldman want the best for their teacher daughter Sarah, including her beau. They will be happy with whoever she chooses as long as he is good Jewish boy. Sarah is dating Chris, who unfortunately doesn’t match this requirement. What is a girl to do? To hide Sarah’s gentile boyfriend she calls for an escort service to impersonate a Jewish boyfriend. When Bob arrives at her door, a series of hilarious events unfold. Sarah discovers Bob is not actually Jewish and doesn’t know any of their customs while Bob discovers he is not escorting an old lady to dinner, but instead becomes a surrogate boyfriend. Sarah scrambles to tell Bob everything he needs to know about their relationship before her parents arrive and the grilling begins… Will they get found out? Has Sarah told Bob all he needs to know? Will Bob know his Kaddesh from his Yachtz? Will it all end in tears?

A life affirming, laugh out loud, feel good show for the whole family!