By Merle Exit
Therapy continues for Steve Solomon in his self-written show, “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m Home for the Holidays.”
The show, presented at Queens Theatre, is the third of his very funny and true-to-life series that performs to an adult audience in cabaret style with one set and props. His impersonations capture the characters to include the multiethnic Brooklyn neighborhood that he grew up in.
In the episode of his life, Solomon is going back home to spend the holidays with his family as he tells the story to the audience. The scenario takes place in Atlanta’s airport where he is supposed to be flying home for the holiday dinner and running late as all flights have been canceled due to a snowstorm. Stuck alone in the terminal late at night, he takes the opportunity to kvetch to us about his parents, as well as his other oddball relatives. His story begins with the airport’s announcement coming over the speakers, which means he has to call his parents who are both hard of hearing, especially his father.
Both parents answer the phone — with previously recorded dialogue.
“It’s intense, it’s bad, nothings coming out, I’m in Atlanta,” says Solomon. His father replies, “He said his intestines are bad, nothing’s coming out, and he had Mylanta.” Solomon replies “No, I’m trapped in Atlanta,” to which his father responds, “Oh, I get it. He crapped from Mylanta.” We hear about Solomon’s own marriage, complete with impersonations of Solomon’s shrewish, fussy “Goy”, now ex-wife and his two teenage kids. He uses a Joe Pesci-like voice to imitate his cousin.
During an interview with TimesLedger Solomon revealed some of his humorous anecdotes.
“Over the last year and half I lost about eight pounds,” Solomon said. “I see my Italian family and they say, ‘Stevie, you’re looking good. You’re taking good care of yourself.’ I see my Jewish family and they say, ‘So, you been sick? See a doctor. You look sick.’ I make fun of my uncle Paulie, who is so dumb that when I said to him, ‘Look at the dead bird,’ he looked up.”
Many of his characters do appear to be stereotyped and it takes a good sense of humor to not be offended with some of his lines.
“My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy” was Solomon’s first of the trio. It became the longest running one-man show on Broadway. He has another show entitled, “Cannoli, Latkes and Guilt. “
Solomon also does stand-up performances, which continue in Florida before returning to New Jersey in late January.
