‘Old Jews Telling Jokes’ is a thing of o...

‘Old Jews Telling Jokes’ is a thing of o...

Joan Marcus

Starring in 'Old Jews Telling Jokes' are, from left, Audrey Lynn Weston, Marilyn Sokol, Lenny Wolpe, Todd Susman and Bill Army.

High-concept? Meschugenah! The new Off-Broadway revue Old Jews Telling Jokes couldnt be plainer or simpler.

For 80 minutes, five actors serve Borscht Belt-flavored gags with all the trimmings exaggerated accents, sighs and shrugs.

Many of the jokes are familiar, unfolding on deserted islands and in doctors offices and bedrooms.

Some gags have been updated to speak to the Angelina Jolie era. Nearly all are deliciously un-P.C.

It adds up to a kosher-pickle barrel of laughs and proves that funny bones are nondenominational.

Creators Peter Gethers and Daniel Okrent based the show on the Internet series at OldJewsTellingJokes.com.

For varietys sake, theyve added a couple of comic songs (Donald Corren accompanies on piano) and vintage comedy clips, which are fun. Less effective are momentum-killing character monologues peppering the production.

Director Marc Brunis straightup staging makes deft use of a gliding and twirling video screen for animated images and titles Birth, Religion and Sex After Marriage that organize and punctuate yucks.

You dont need high-tech gizmos when youve got five terrific performers, including the menschy Lenny Wolpe, irresistibly low-key Todd Susman and fiendishly madcap Marilyn Sokol. Her joke about D batteries is a lewd and hilarious highlight.

Representing a younger generation are the appealing and energetic Audrey Lynn Weston and Bill Army.

Read between the punch lines and Old Jews has a message about humor getting us through tough times. But the show really just wants to crack audiences up and does. Whats not to like?

4 good jokes

* A Russian, a Frenchman and a Jew are lost in the desert. The Russian says, Ach, Im tired and thirsty I must haf a wodka. The Frenchman says, Mon dieu, I am tired and zirsty, I must have ze wine. The Jew says, Oy, Im tired and thoisty I must have diabetes.

* I told my mother I was finally getting married. She was thrilled! She wanted to meet my fiance so I said, Ma, Im gonna play a little game with you. Im gonna bring in three women and you have to guess which ones gonna be my wife. She said fine, so the next day I brought in three beautiful women. My mom talks to each of them for 15 seconds and then she turns to me and says, The one in the middle. I said, Ma, that's amazing! Howd you do that? She said, Thats the one I dont like.

* A man goes to see his rabbi. He says, Rabbi, I think my wife is poisoning me. I dont know what to do! The rabbi says, Give me a chance to talk to her and Ill get back to you. The next day, the rabbi calls the guy and says, I had a long, long talk with your wife. Three hours at least. The man says, Yes, yes, so whats your advice? Take the poison.

* Zipkin and Weinstein walk by a Catholic church. A big sign says, Convert to Catholicism and Get $ 50. Weinstein says, Im gonna do it. He strides into the church and comes out 20 minutes later with his head bowed. Zipkin says, So, did you get your $ 50? Weinstein looks at him and says, Is that all you people think about?