The many faceted entertainer discusses his solo holiday show 'Jewish Chronicles - Christmas Special.'
Multi-talented Daniel Cainer is performing his one man cabaret Jewish Chronicles - Christmas Special at the SoHo Playhouse December 13-23. This production marks his seventh residency at the Playhouse located at 15 Vandam St. in Manhattan. Based in London, Cainer is a creative polymath having a varied career as a multi-award winning songwriter, performer, broadcaster, music producer, and story teller. A press release for the production describes Cainer as a composer of songs dealing "with the big ideas: What does it mean to be Jewish? Is there a God or isn’t there? Who invented the bagel? His songs and music are for anyone who has ever wrestled with their home, heritage and heart."
The Los Angeles Times has reviewed Cainer by stating, “You don’t have to be Jewish, or British to get a kick out of Cainer’s shtick,” and the UK Daily Mirror describes him as “A must-see." The Daily Express has opined that "Cainer's songs are heart-rending, delicate and witty in all the right places."
I posed some questions to Daniel Cainer regarding the production.
QUESTION: What ideas is Jewish Chronicles - Christmas Special exploring? Based on the title, is it correct that the show will appeal to those of the Jewish as well as non-Jewish faiths?
CAINER: Oh you know. The big questions. Who we are. Why we are. Where we come from. How you pronounce bagel (in the UK this is a contentious issue). I’m not saying I answer them all. Nor do I specifically pose them like that. But in the songs and stories I tell, these things come up.
Last night I was at my cousin’s house in London for first night Chanukah. The guests were a mix of Jews and non-Jews. After playing my hardy perennial Channukah song and a new song ‘Beyond me’ which is my own take on life, the universe and everything at the moment, my cousin said “I’m not crying you’re crying” and as I looked around everyone in the room had a tear in their eye and not just because my cousin’s piano is hopelessly out of tune. I have been told my music is universal. It covers the joy and pain of existence. Songs are my language. It’s what I do. It’s who I am. Laughter and tears. Revelations and philosophy. And in the words of someone else, “if you breathe and you appreciate lyrics, you’ll love this.”
Q: Do you think that humor and song can be effective vehicles for addressing serious issues?
CAINER: Of course. Comedy has always been a way of addressing the truth. And with the music you can play with the form and erm… mess with the message. A jaunty tune holding a serious subject can be very effective in playing with the listener’s perception. Not all my songs are humorous as such but they all, I hope, will touch your soul.
Q: What composer/song writers do you particularly admire and have they influenced your work?
CAINER: I suppose at heart I am a singer-songwriter that has given himself permission to write in a longer form. My early influences were the great poet/singer songwriters of the time: Leonard Cohen, Randy Newman, Paul Simon Joni Mitchell etc. But also jazz, theatre, music-hall, American Songbook and Sondheim of course. People often say my work reminds them of a Tom Lehrer or Tim Minchin. I think the essential thread is music which makes you think and feel and live and laugh as well as being accessible and melodic.
Q: Is there anything in general you would like to tell audiences about Jewish Chronicles - Christmas Special?
CAINER: It will be a chance to gather and to contemplate. To remember and forget all at the same time. To consider what it means to be Jewish (particularly right now)? Is there or isn't there a God? The good, the bad the ugly… all of it. We can cry a bit and laugh a bit and sing a bit. And wonder about the meaning of it all a bit. It will be just like a synagogue service but without the synagogue bit. And without the preachy bit. And without the religious bit. Some lovely music, some storytelling and some gags. What more can you ask for in an hour at the theater?
Q: Would you like to share with us what your future projects are?
CAINER: More of the same and similar. From London to New York to LA to Edinburgh. I’m working on a new album and a book and a musical. And doing my monthly astrology song with my mini-dachshund Ziggy Stardog. He’s the only singing astrological dog in the world (probably). And doing more worrying of course. Who are we, what are, why are we? And trying to articulate what most of us feel about the world at the moment. The shows must go on and I hope my music helps.
More information about Daniel Cainer can be found in the link to his website below:
-Interview conducted by Paul Hansen