Good, clean fun — Kosher comedy coming to Cedarhurst

By Mayer Fertig

Issue of April 3, 2009 / 9 Nissan 5769

These days we could all use a good laugh. Happily, good, clean laughs are coming to Central Avenue.

“Kenny Gluck presents Kosher Komedy at Tea for Two” debuts Motza’ei Shabbat, April 4. Dave Rosner, a shomer Shabbat comedian who is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve will host the show. Joe La Roche of Boston is the featured performer; the headliner is John Larocchia, a firefighter now retired from the hazardous materials team based at a firehouse in Maspeth, Queens.

“It’s a very patriotic show. I don’t know if it was intended that way but” that’s the way it worked out, said Gluck. The comedy will be funny but clean, he said.

“They know. They’ve done NCSY with some of these guys ... we’re hoping to get the best material in the cleanest way.”

There’s a $20 per person charge to enter and a two-drink minimum –– but no shlep to a comedy club in the city and no parking fees or expensive parking tickets to contend with.

Tea for Two plans to host “Kenny Gluck presents Kosher Komedy” every third week, Gluck said.

“It’s not so easy to book these guys because of their busy schedules. Road comics are always touring. It’s not like I can pull a guy off his Vegas show to do the Five Towns. So when they become available I’m going to do my best to book them.”

Funny people from around the area have called trying to book themselves onto the Tea for Two stage, and Gluck said he may do an open mic night in the future –– “that would be a chance for locals to come out with their friends and show off their talent” –– but for now he and business partner Mike Fine will stick with professional comedians.

“You don’t have to be Jewish. You just have to be clean, funny and kosher,” he said.