See it; you'll like it. Beau Jest at the Wilmette Theatre

Beau Jest, which had its Chicago Premiere at the Wilmette Theatre on Thursday, should slap a warning on its poster: THIS FILM CONTAINS NO VIOLENCE, NUDITY, PROFANITY, OR CRUELTY but it’s really funny and sort of sweet.

I interviewed the writer/director, James Sherman, in an earlier post and have to admit, came into the theater with predisposed to liking the film. I also like the story of how this long-running play about a Jewish girl and her parents had reached across the country to engage the producers, David and Sandy Newton from Salt Lake City.

Jim Sherman and David Newton

In the process, the making of Beau Jest fulfilled Sherman’s dream of turning his play into a movie and David Newton’s dream of turning a career of building cabinets (with a college degree in film) into actually making a movie.

So, while at the theater, I started with a smile on my face. But you really can’t fake laughter. Try it sometime. It sounds like you’re coughing or choking on matzah. Beau Jest made me laugh. It is a farce. In a good way! Great Chicago and North Shore atmosphere: including a Welcome to Skokie sign on Dempster and references to Buffalo Grove and Highland Park.

Sarah Goldman, played by the very charming Robyn Cohen, hires an actor Robert Schroeder (ably played by Tony Daly) to pose as Sarah’s “Jewish boyfriend.” Except that Robert isn’t Jewish. But he is an actor, and well, it just keeps getting more complicated. But complicated with laughs.

It is a film in the vein of My Big Fat Greek Wedding or to go back way back, My Favorite Year.

Maybe it’s Lainie Kazan (click for her website) playing Miriam Goldman – that’s the connection. And what’s wrong with that? For those of us who remember her as the hot zaftig singer on the Dean Martin Show, it’s a pleasure to see her become the all-embracing, scene-stealing mother of all mothers. Jewish, Greek or otherwise.

Willie Garson, (Stanford Blanch in Sex in the City), plays Sarah’s brother Joel.  Garson’s character reminds me of  Sherman. I don’t know if that was in the direction or the intention. Joel stands apart from the action, commenting on it, and delivering what might be the film’s prescription for all manner of parent/adult child issues: “Get over it!”

Seymour Cassel is Sarah’s father Abe, who treats “his business religiously and his religion like a business.” He runs a very loose seder.

One of my favorite elements of Beau Jest is that it includes scenes of a Shabbat dinner, a Bar Mitzvah service, and a Seder. While these scenes are certainly played for laughs, they are not ridiculed or made to seem absurd. These are scenes of a recognizable Jewish family. While not traditionally observant (Sarah says they are Jew-ish), the family is engaged in the Jewish tradition.

I was entertained. I laughed and even got a little misty eyed. And what the hell is wrong with that?

The film is playing nightly @ 7:30, at the Wilmette Theatre 1122 Central Ave. Til October 8 only! Don’t delay!