The Other Josh Cohen Is Better Than Real Life

One of the best shows I've seen at the New York Musical Festival is V-Day. That was in 2010 and I've been wanting that show to get an off-Broadway production ever since. That moment has finally arrived. It's now playing at the Soho Playhouse and it's been renamed The Other Josh Cohen, but it's still just as enjoyable as I remember. If you enjoy a good Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory reference, buy chocolate the day after Valentine's Day when it's 50% off, or like to laugh, this show is for you.

Photo credit: Carol Rosegg

Whenever I tell anyone the plot of the show, they say, "That sounds horrible." But trust me, it's delightful. David Rossmer and Steve Rosen wrote the show and they also both play Josh Cohen. Rossmer is the Josh Cohen of the present, narrating the story, and Rosen is the Josh Cohen of the past. Six days before Valentine's Day, Josh gets robbed of everything but one CD--Neil Diamond III (all the good songs are on volume II). All the songs (also by Rossmer and Rosen) are in the style of Neil Diamond and just as catchy (fingers crossed for a cast recording, but in the meantime some of the tracks are available on the website). The rest of the parts are winningly played by Kate Wetherhead and the band--Ken Triwush, Vadim Feichtner, and Hannah Elless.

Rossmer and Rosen are so likable, you can't help but root for them. And the show is laugh-out-loud funny, but also sweet and pretty wholesome. It's rare to find a show like that. It's only playing through November 11, though it deserves a longer life, but just in case, you probably should stop reading and just go get your tickets.