This 1980’s play is a light hearted comedy that is easy to relax into.  The characters are clearly defined and almost loveable, with people talking directly to the audience occasionally to tell us what’s up when the going gets rough.  It is classic “lower East Side” with a good story to make us appreciate the simplicity of the ‘80s.  It’s a couple of good friends sitting down on the couch for coffee and a chat.

That’s not to say it’s mundane, however.  Delancey Street has always been a bustling street in the lower East Side of Manhattan.  Going outside onto the street, one can meet friends in a very historically Jewish world where theatres and delicatessens host friendships in style. Bookstores thrive for young women professionals like Isabelle “Izzy” Grossman, our woman about town, played by Lisa Morse*.

Izzy’s grandmother, Ida “Bubbie” Kantor, played by Tamar Cohn, lives upstairs in a comfortably old style apartment.  Cohn’s accent and honesty with Izzy can be explained in a single word: mishpacha, or “comfortable family.” The neighborhood is safe and Bubbie is comfortable with the family.  Her granddaughter, Izzy, is a single woman in a culture that longs for couples and family for everyone.  Bubbie longs for Izzy to find a good man, but Izzy is happy the way she is: single with friends.

Enter the matchmaker, or shadchan, Hannah Mandelbaum, played by Jennifer McGeorge*.  Hired by Bubbie to bring Izzy in line with the mishpacha tradition, Hannah finds a local man (Sam Posner, played by Mark P. Robinson) to work with Izzy in this personal-business relationship. Izzy is interested in a different man, however, and just cannot take Hannah and her man-client seriously.

Tamar Cohn plays a delightful Bubbie Kantor, bubbling over with gossip and cultural references, with the energy of a spry Jewish grandmother wanting to remind the granddaughter of the traditions of their culture, while feeding her sweets and love.  Cohn fills the cultural traditions famously.  Her idioms, accent and pronunciations let us believe we are there in time.  If there is any doubt of purpose or intention, Cohn will talk to us on the apron directly, to let us know the facts of life.

Lisa Morse walks onstage with the air of someone who knows her mind and is happy with her life. Morse fits the part perfectly, with the confidence to be able to ignore her grandmother’s advice without a hint of guilt or afterthought. When Bubbie brings in a nice man to meet her granddaughter, Izzy just greets him and goes her own way, with a few words to the audience that she is fine without a man, thank you.  Of course there are undercurrents of feelings, which develop with the play.

Jennifer McGeorge*, as the matchmaker, Hannah Mandelbaum, continues to ask Izzy what is wrong with the nice gentleman she has lined up for a match.  McGeorge is pushy, like an old friend wanting to help solve a romantic problem, and gets emotional when Izzy does not admit to any problem. Izzy just says she is not interested in the “Pickle Man,” as she calls Sam Posner, played by Mark Robinson..

This leads us naturally to Mark P. Robinson, as Sam Posner, who underplays the part of a potential partner for Izzy.  Robinson is the perfect foil for everyone in this developing family saga.  He loves Bubbie, who treats him with respect and hope.  He idolizes Izzy, who tries to ignore him, but cannot.  He is a mystery to Hannah, who does not understand why Sam will not play the game.  Robinson plays off everyone perfectly, keeping all their interests alive.

Steve Price, as Tyler Moss, has the smooth moves of a big writer coming to Izzy to sweep her off her feet, and don’t you forget it.  Price saves the best for last when he finally clears the air with Izzy.  He comes clean to everyone in one sentence, and it is not “Here’s looking at you, kid.”  Steve Price also plays the producer of this smooth show.

Director Adrian Elfenbaum has cooked up a fun evening with an ending that blushes with romance and a wink from Izzy that says she likes romance with the right guy very much. Elfenbaum brings out the nature of this gentle story in a way that is supportive of all the relationships and their roles in telling us the story. 

Michael Walraven built a good set with designs by Mikiko Uesugi**.  Jim Cave lit the show’s three different areas of the set to allow the actors to shine in their roles.  Billie Cox provided the period music to fill in the elements of both the culture and setting.  Costumes by Valera Coble and Michael Berg worked to show off Lisa Morse and Tamar Cohn.  Congratulations to all the skilled work that crafted this show fun.

There are no issues here. We can identify with the ways of the Jewish culture that we know, and can laugh about situations when families care enough to try to keep their families happy and growing.  Its love, afterall, that brings us to cross Delancey.

“Crossing Delancey” continues at Ross Valley Playhouse at 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross, through October 13, 2024.

For further information and reservations: http://www.rossvalleyplayers.com/   

* = Actors Equity Association member.  ** = United Scenic Artists member.

Rating: ****

“Crossing Delancy,” by Susan Sandler, produced by Ross Valley Playhouse.  Director: Adrian Eifenbaum, Producer: Steve Price, Set Designer: Mikiko Uesugi**, Set Builder: Michael Walraven, Light Designer: Jim Cave, Sound Designer: Billie Cox, Costume Designer: Valera Coble, Stage Manager: Ben Vasquez, Props: Dianne Harrison.

Cast: Tamar Cohn as Ida “Bubbie” Kantor, Lisa Morse* as Isabelle “Izzy” Grossman, Jennifer S. McGeorge* as Hannah Mendelbaum, Steve Price as Tyler Moss, Mark P Robinson as Sam Posner.