Lets face it. Living in Israel is not easy. And if you've been here long enough, the list of frustrating... er, the list of learning experiences continues to grow longer and longer.
Luckily, Israels newest comedy troupe, Hahafuch, is running loose around town, wreaking mayhem, determined to make new immigrants laugh about living in this wonderfully wacky Jewish homeland through sketch comedy, improv, videos, Daily-Show style news, and more.
Hahafuch will be debuting at Merkaz Hamagshim in Jerusalem on February 11, 2010 along with musical guest a capella group KOLture Shock, Immigrant Innovation Guest: Asif Winerys Chardonnay, free wine tasting and cheap beer.
Blueprint got a chance to talk to some of these hilarious up-and-coming superstars and find out the details behind Hahafuch, a Jerusalem based comedy troupe made up of Molly Livingstone, Benji Lovitt, Shira Katz, Anne Lewis, Aaron Friedman, and Janne Bjerkholt.
Benji Lovitt, of WhatWarZone.com, gave some insight into the naming process of the troupe. We came up with the name only after 'The Al-Aqsa Farters Brigade' and "Bad Chumus Experience' were shot down. It''s a great name though. It has 'ha ha,' it has Hebrew, and it means both a type of coffee and "upside down," as in backwards or crazy like our group itself. There are at least 12 more layers of symbolism but you'll have to come to the show to hear about them.
Molly explained her vision for the group. We started because we need the creative outlet and instead of crying about all the crazy things happening in Israel, we just decided to laugh at them and show other people that actually things are funny here. The peace process, hilarious, bureaucracy- the situations hand themselves to sketches and the news stories seem like someone from the Daily Show wrote them and slip them into Israeli newspapers. I want people to walk away from our show laughing and enjoying our country and all its flaws."
So how do you know if you should come? Shira Katz spelled out what kind of crowd she thinks will show up. Technically anyone willing to pay and sit and watch u," she said. "Being that five of us are American, some of us Olim, we definitely feel like anyone who shares the ''immigrant experience'' could appreciate or at the very least relate to what we are doing.
Benji had this to add, Funny is funnyIsraelis are invited too! And remember....if we make fun of you, we're doing it out of love.
Check out their short promo videos to invite you to the show: www.youtube.com/user/HaHafuch
Hahafuch is always looking for funny news pieces to include in their show, and you can even win a prize just check out their Facebook Page for details.
Hahafuchs first performance will be at Merkaz Hamgshimim, 7 Dor Dor VDorshav St, Jerusalem at 7:30pm on Feb 11. Entrance is 35 NIS, 30 NIS for students. For more information, please visit the Facebook Event and Hahafuchs Facebook Page to become a fan.
They also hope to perform at Beit Avichai during Pesach Hol Hamoed. So stay tuned.