Suzie Depreli’s ‘Rules Schmules: How to be Jew-ISH’ one-woman musical-monologue show is an entertaining introspection on what it means to be culturally Jewish in a modern world.
Armed with a piano, mic, and a whiteboard filled with definitions of many of the terms to come up in this production that those unfamiliar with Jewish vernacular would be a tad bewildered by, Deprelli’s easy-going demeanor fills the room with candor. As we walk in, Deprelli chats with us, welcoming the audience into the small space. Once we are all seated and the house lights dim, Deprelli gives us a little explanation as to how the next hour will go. Deprelli’s confident stage presence and calm atmosphere makes this feel akin to a family gathering to chat and share.
Deprelli has composed a variety of songs all about her relationship to Judaism. She describes herself as ‘Jew-ish’ – while she is simultaneously incredibly proud of her Jewish heritage, she has refocused her perception on some of the regulations and customs that don’t quite fit into her perception of the modern world. One such example is the custom of ‘marrying in’, i.e. marrying someone who is also Jewish. Deprelli feels that this disregards the idea that one should marry for love. Deprelli married someone who was brought up devout catholic, and she describes the joy that has been teaching each other about their distinct customs, as well as the challenges they inevitably faced coming from such distinct cultural backgrounds.
The structure of Rules Schmules: How to be Jew-ISH is delightfully charismatic. Deprelli chats with us, explains the next concept that will be sung about, and then performs a song that is both funny, beautiful, and sometimes poignant. Each song is bookmarked with a bit of a chat, helping the production attain some structure without sacrificing its comfortable atmosphere. Deprelli is a great musician, a deftly skilled pianist and lovely singer. While the structure of this show runs the risk of feeling a tad monotonous, Deprelli’s skill and humor make it a joy to watch. The stories she sings are supported by a slideshow of visual aids, including the lyrics to the songs she sings. Some visual aids included pictures from Suzie Deprelli’s own life – her non-Jewish friends enjoying their first sedar, old family pictures of Shabbats gone by – as well as general stock images to help the audience envisage the stories told.
Rules Schmules: How to be Jew-ISH will be making its way around various fringe festivals in the coming week, and is most certainly an enjoyable way to spend an hour.