Edinburgh Fringe 2025
Henry Churniavsky… Life Lessons from a Jewish Grandfather (Zaida)
Henry (Churniavsky) Churney (Laugh For Life Comedy)
Genre: Comedy, Solo Show, Stand-Up
Venue: theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
Henry Churniavsky brings the audience into his world with charm, persistence, and sharp wordplay. His riffs on language, aging, and family life create moments of laughter, delivered in the unmistakable rhythm of a Jewish grandfather who refuses to let go of a good bit.
Review
Henry Churniavsky is no stranger to the Fringe- he’s performed here many times over the years- but this is my first encounter with his comedy. The premise, Life Lessons from a Jewish Grandfather (Zaida), suggests a show rooted in generational wisdom, parenting foibles, and the joys and irritations of growing older. Churniavsky only had a few dates in town, and due to scheduling I attended on opening night. What unfolded was loose and wide-ranging, best thought of as a work in progress: full of ideas, some very funny, still finding the structure to hold it together in a tight, consistent hour.
Churniavsky begins by describing himself: a Scouser, Jewish, married for 38 years, and now a Zaida, Yiddish for grandfather. From there, he launches into stories and observations that zigzag between family anecdotes, medical misadventures, Jewish cultural references, and playful linguistic riffs. The material, at times, was loosely connected to the advertised theme, but the persona he inhabits- warm, stubborn, teasing, and insistent- keeps the audience engaged.
When the character work is sharp, the results are delightful. A highlight came when he asked audience members, one by one, “Have you dealt with the menopause?”- directed indiscriminately to all genders. The sheer persistence of the bit, delivered with a classically Jewish rhythm of not letting go, had me cracking up even after the show was over. Later, he echoed this technique with another medical issue, circling back to the same comic device in a way that felt smart and earned. These are the moments when his persona feels fully alive.
Other sections show lots of promise and will pay off when the persona stays consistent and the through-line is clearer. These include bits about generational differences in parenting, riffs on Jewish traditions, and poking fun at all the ways the human body is weird. Currently they sparkle in flashes; there is opportunity to build them into a larger narrative.
One of Churniavsky’s strengths is his love of language. He cleverly redefines common acronyms like DIY and LOL that fit perfectly into the Zaida character of his show. It’s sharp and reveals his unique generational lens. These linguistic turns are where his voice shines and could easily be expanded. On the night I saw the show, they were mostly contained in one section, but sprinkled throughout, they could help provide rhythm and give the piece a stronger spine.
The most compelling material comes when he leans into self-deprecating honesty about aging. “You don’t get a chance to practice getting old,” he says, noting how suddenly things like breathing or bladder control become problems. The details he shares land because they’re rooted in real vulnerability and specificity. These are the kernels of truth that deepen the show when woven tightly with the Zaida theme.
For an opening night, the show already had the bones of a Very Good Show. The gems are undeniable: in a few moments, I laughed harder than I have at any show this Fringe. With more tightening and focus, this will grow into a sharp, satisfying, and warmly idiosyncratic hour.
