‘Bad Jews’ sets off fireworks

What faith means to everyone is a very personal thing, but usually that is influenced by your family. The dark comedy “Bad Jews” explores a fissure among related young adults regarding their Judaism, with outrageous humor and a heavy dose of vitriol.

In a fast-paced production well-staged by New Jewish Theatre, a quartet of fine young actors deliver theatrical fireworks. Joshua Harmon’s 2012 smash-hit play is explosive and thought-provoking, and the four fearlessly tackle the challenge.

Three first cousins share an Upper West Side studio apartment after their grandfather’s death, in town from college to sit Shiva, the weeklong mourning ritual for first-degree relatives.

They are well-educated, pampered and indulged Millennials. No one denies their love for their grandfather, and his warm affection for them.

But when Daphna, aka Diana, is insistent her faith is more important to her than her two male cousins Liam and Jonah, that’s when they clash.

At issue is grandpa’s chai necklace, a Jewish symbol that he protected during the Holocaust, when he was in a concentration camp. Daphna thinks because she is in pre-rabbinical studies and dating an Israeli soldier, she deserves to inherit the heirloom.

However, Liam, who arrives from Aspen with his Gentile girlfriend Melody, has his own plan for it.

The self-absorbed Liam and the self-righteous Daphna square off, a torrent of vicious words flowing as the irritation with each other escalates. Antonio Rodriguez and Em Piro superbly embody their characters — he’s wound up and she’s sanctimonious.

Piro is a marvel in her motormouth tirades as an anxious control freak venting, hypercritical about her relatives.

Neither backs down, and the confrontation gets ugly. He mocks her as a “Super Jew” and she blasts him about his religious indifference and dating a shiksa.

As they hurl hurtful accusations and insults at each other, Pete Winfrey, as reticent Jonah, and Taylor Steward, as perplexed Melody, stand by horrified.

Jonah’s level head and Melody’s outsider status put them on the sidelines, but they are integral to the show’s dynamic. Both haplessly get used in the crossfire.

While the show is often laugh-out-loud funny, the humor stings. The savagery feels too cruel as the free-for-all reaches its claustrophobic climax.

But whatever we take away from this different look at family, faith and legacy, the play presents interesting observations. Sydnie Grosberg Ronga has shrewdly directed this outstanding cast, moving them well throughout Dunsi Dai’s expansive scenic design.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 6:40 AM with the headline "‘Bad Jews’ sets off fireworks."