Circumscribed: A True Tall Tale of One Father, Two Sons, and Thousands of Foreskins
Comedic storytelling about growing up with a father who was a mohel (Jewish ritual circumciser) who buried foreskins at home, choosing poor father figures after his untimely death, and later wrestling with circumcising his own child. Winner of the Audience Choice Award at the NYC Fringe
A very touching story about having a father, losing a father, and becoming a father. Complete with stories and artifacts from his youth, Noam’s relaxed storytelling is very inviting. Worth your time!
Don't be put off by the reference to foreskins in the blurb. It's part of the show but not its focus. An hour of examining the relationships of fathers and sons through anecdotes and memories that can be sad, hsppy, or humerous/embarassing. The hour flew by.
Who knew the most Jewish show at the Edmonton fringe could be so hilarious yet so touching? Noam Osband’s Canadian debut of his solo show Circumscribed: A True Tale of One Father, Two Sons and A Thousand Foreskins is a moving account of Osband’s struggles surrounding the passing of his father, a Mohel (Jewish ritual circumciser), and the complication relationship with his sons, tradition and grief.
Noam Osband’s performance is commanding, vulnerable and effortlessly comedic. Through a rollercoaster of absurd and chaotic stories, He brings an unexpected softness to the show. His spoken storytelling, paired with a digital collection of moments from his life, brings each story to life and makes the performance feel deeply personal. The combination of humour and vulnerability allows Osband to explore grief without letting the heavier moments overwhelm the comedy, Osband's greatest achievement is that he did not treat grief and comedy as opposites, more so he treats embarrassment, family history and humor as ways of confronting loss.
If you are looking for a lighthearted comedy with more than a few Jewish jokes, Circumscribed is the show for you. A surprisingly touching story about family, loss, and the strange ways we find humour in difficult moments.