“seriously funny”

“Director Fred Sternfeld stages this play with a light hand. He astutely allows the material to be what it is ... a sitcom"

“Brian Zoldessy … hands-down hilarious and endearing”

publicity picture
Larry Nehring as "Ben" and Brian Zoldessy as "Hershel"

Excerpts from the Sun Press review ...
by Jarrod Zickefoose

"Modern Othodox has laughs and meaning"

"Director Fred Sternfeld moves the production along at a good clip. There's not a dull spot to be found"

"Brian Zoldessy's physical humor and spot-on timing command the bulk of the laughs"

"entertaining and thought-provoking, making us laugh while asking fundamental questions about what it means to be not just Jewish, but human.

"cloaked in humorous riff after humorous riff, Goldfarb's play is really a quest for meaning"

Excerpts from the Free Times review...
by James Damico

"chuckly palatable and — rarely these days — inoffensive"

Excerpts from the Cleveland Jewish News review...
by Margi Herwald

“It's good to laugh at yourself every now and again…The Jewish Community Center's Arts & Culture program gives us a chance to do just that with its first play of the '06-07 season: “Modern Orthodox.”

“light-hearted”

“it certainly seemed to tickle the opening night crowd's collective funny bone”

“Cute and funny”

Excerpts from The Cleveland Plain Dealer review...
by Carolyn Jack

"Director Fred Sternfeld does the best anyone could ... helping his actors create moments of two- and even three-dimensional emotional resonance"

"Brian Zoldessy as Hershel, the merchant; Larry Nehring as Ben, the financial adviser; and Holly Facer as Rachel, Hershel’s blind date, all work hard to seem truly human"

"Lara Mielcarek, as the doctor and Ben’s love, Hannah ... aided by Goldfarb, who makes this role the most thoughtful, open and original of the four, Mielcarek discovers in Hannah believable depths of bewilderment, sexuality and compassion"

“Larry Nehring, a very gifted and accomplished comedic performer … playful, engaging and always interesting to watch"

"The same is true for Lara Mielcarak, as Hannah. Her character is a strong, independent feminist counterpoint”

“Holly Facer … is a yofy and zaftig shana punim (definition: beautiful and buxom pretty face) … with wonderful comic timing”

“Modern Orthodox is a funny, punch line-laden love story that is far from coma-inducing"

Excerpts from the Cleveland Jewish News review...
by Margi Herwald

“The production's strength lies in the energetic and comedically adept performances of Zoldessy and Nehring as Hershel and Ben, respectively. Both actors have excellent comic timing and commit themselves fully to every ridiculous act, farcical moment and wisecrack”

”Zoldessy manages to make his Hershel so sweet you forgive the character's pushiness, and he absolutely shines in the awkward moment of Hershel's first kiss”

“Nehring … sadly sweet as he constantly tells Hannah, “I love you,” only to never hear her say, “I love you, too”

"As the emotionally worn-out Hannah, Mielcarek ... adorable ... very bubbly"

”As Hershel's sex-obsessed Orthodox blind date Rachel, Holly Facer is amusingly lusty”

Excerpts from the Cleveland Jewish News review...
by Margi Herwald

”Ben Needham's set nicely combines the literal and the figurative. A brightly-colored Star of David painted with images of New York City, Jewish tradition and Jewish popular culture hangs above Hershel and Ben during their initial meeting. When the set shifts to reveal Ben and Hannah's suitably realistic apartment, the Star of David splinters into three pieces that border the set until they come back together at the play's conclusion”

“Sound designer Richard B. Ingraham fills the scene shifts with groovy tunes that combine traditional klezmer sounds with modern rock-style drums and bass. Trad A Burns's lighting design is evocative, particularly when Hershel and Hannah sit in the half-light of Shabbat, forbidden by Jewish law to turn on the electricity”

”a fun, little romp through the lives of three confused Jews trying to find love in the 21st century”