new york | Jackie Mason is back doing what he does best: ribald, feisty standup comedy, laced with more than a few choice curse words. More than a year after critics panned his last Broadway show, which featured his classic bits interspersed with ill-advised musical numbers, Mason sticks to his usual shtick in his latest outing, “Freshly Squeezed,” at the Helen Hayes Theatre.
In his seventh one-man show on Broadway, Mason delights his fans with the kind of piercing social commentary for which he’s famous, as well as the usual bits about rich Jewish women and the differences between Jews and non-Jews.
If much of the material seems as though it’s been recycled, that’s because it just about has. The jokes may change with each show, but the subjects of Mason’s ridicule and wrath remain largely the same — the glut of cell phones in the world, the differences between men and women, hard-to-understand foreigners and politicians.
Mason even pokes fun at himself at the beginning of the show, telling his audience not to say anything if they think they’ve heard a certain joke before. He swears the material is all new. Inevitably, one heckler speaks up, but Mason seems to expect it, and gets a big laugh by putting her in her place.
Despite its flaws, Mason’s brand of comedy will always be part of his charm, which explains why he is still such a top draw at age 74. He’s still among the best at delivering a one-liner, and his commentary on society remains sharp and hilarious.
Consider his slam on “The Gates,” Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s public design project in Central Park earlier this year: “Did you think the thing missing in Central Park was orange curtains (kyeer-tuhns)? … If you had those orange curtains in your house, you’d throw them away.”
Mason also gently chides gay culture while excoriating politicians who oppose same-sex marriage. In a funny bit, he acknowledges that gays have overcome a lot in recent years and found immense pride in being gay. He notes that gays have become so proud, in fact, anytime two of them get together, a parade starts.
As always, Mason touches on politics, giving equal time to poking fun at President Bush and his former Democratic rival, Sen. John Kerry. Mason lets Bush have it for skimping on the details during the presidential election, while he lambastes Kerry for being wishy-washy. Even though the election is now several months removed, the jokes still retain their zing.
Mason is perhaps his best when he laughs at himself, ending the show with a message to those in the audience who didn’t enjoy his act: “If this is the best you can afford, that’s your problem.”