Ending

The ending of The Last Night of Ballyhoo remains ambiguous. Does the family's Sabbath dinner represent Sunny's fantasy of the future, or does it represent a future that has become realized? The scene is so brief that it is impossible to formulate an accurate answer to this question. However, whether the scene is fantasy or reality, it does highlight the direction in which at least one member of the family is headed; for Sunny, the future clearly holds a new interest in Judaism. With Joe's help, Sunny will try to steer her family to learn more about their religious and cultural heritage.

Comedy

The Last Night of Ballyhoo is a comedy. Many of the characters indulge in deadpan banter and one-liners. When Lala emerges dressed in a hoop skirt like Scarlett O'Hara wears in Gone With the Wind, Adolph calls her Scarlett O'Goldberg. To explain why he never...