Heard the one about the Jewish stand up whose show did so well it transferred to the West End?
Mark Maier, who has written and featured in several Radio 4 sitcoms, will be performing his observationally Jewish show, The 9 O’Clock Schmooze, at the Bloomsbury. The performance, with support from Wales-based comedian Bennett Arron, is on Wednesday and “any neuroses, mannerisms or unusual character traits you see are entirely deliberate”, says Mr Maier, 46.
He tells People: “I have been working on the comedy circuit for a number of years but never really delved into Jewish stuff. I decided to put on a show that focuses on Jewish life.
“I grew up in Newcastle and had quite a Jewish upbringing. I went to synagogue and Cheder and so I started picking up some Jewish bits and pieces en route.”
His show, which sold out at the New End Theatre in Hampstead, north London, makes fun of Jewish behaviour. He says there are jokes about the various obsessions Jews have, such as interfering with every aspect of their children’s life. “It’s a slice of life. And I have found that it doesn’t matter where you are in the UK, these traits are universal.”
His one-man show Objects transferred to Radio 4, receiving high critical acclaim.
The 9 O Clock Schmooze is on October 7 at 8.30pm. Box office: 020 7388 8822
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