Bar Mitzvah Boy by Jack Rosenthal

**** 4 Extra marks 50 years since the TV debut of Jack Rosenthal’s BAFTA-winning drama.

At the tender age of 13, Eliot Green is about to become a man - in the Jewish religion at least.

In the synagogue, in front of the whole congregation, he will read and sing in Hebrew from the Torah (the Hebrew scrolls) - this after a year of intensive tuition.

Later he will enjoy receiving gifts from relatives and friends as he celebrates with them at his Bar Mitzvah party.

All eyes are on Eliot as he is called up in synagogue for his big moment!

But is he ready to become a man?

Jack Rosenthal's award-winning TV play specially adapted for radio by his daughter, the playwright Amy Rosenthal.

Eliot …. Hugo Raine
Rita …. Tracy-Ann Oberman
Victor …. David Horovitch
Grandad …. Andrew Sachs
Lesley …. Susannah Wise
Harold …. Jonathan Tafler
Denise …. Maya Gerber
Squidge …. Sam Cummings
Rabbi Sherman …. Peter Majer
Synagogue Cantor …. Rabbi Mark L Solomon

Director: David Ian Neville

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2011.

**** This play along with many others established the late Jack Rosenthal as one of Britain's best loved TV writers.
A master at creating characters that you could recognise and empathise with, his plays were always sharp and finely tuned with a rich helping of humour.