'Generations Apart' Brought Laughter Close to Home

Sock puppets and mixed marriage had seniors of Union County laughing and smiling Saturday afternoon, when the Cranford library held a staged reading of “Generations Apart.”  

It was performed by the members of the Theater Project, a professional theater company formerly located at Union County College’s Cranford campus. The play, written by Marv Siegel is a comedy about a Jewish couple living in a retirement community and the Catholic widow who moves in next door.

The actors had never met before today and did one read through prior to the beginning of the play. Angela Della Ventura, who played the character of Rosemary, said the biggest challenge was only reading the script once before performing.

“It’s the first time I played a character so old,” Della Ventura said. “I think the audience really enjoyed it.”

The show began with the introduction to Norman and Edna and their recently divorced daughter Marcy. Norman who is a funny, yet senile man sells socks and Edna is the typical overbearing Jewish mother. Marcy is a lawyer who is upset because her children are with their father for the weekend.

Rosemary, an ex-girl friend of Norman’s moves in next door. He gets excited to see her, which gets the blood pumping through Edna’s veins. Norma plays on her jealousy throughout the play. Rosemary’s son, Raymond - like Marcy - is also visiting, divorced, a lawyer and his kids are away as well.

Throughout, the play, Edna is constantly nagging Marcy Ray because he is a goy - a non-Jewish person. But, as the play progresses, Edna gets hurt and sues the furniture company, which Ray is defending. As Marcy and Ray face off in court they become close and fall for each other. Edna is furious at her daughter and tells Rosemary to move. But, by the end of the play, Edna apologized and admitted happiness comes first.  

Terri Sturtevant, who played Edna, followed her mother into acting and has been acting for over 50 years. She is as vibrant in person as she was while performing. Sturtevant said although the play was a comedy, if it had a message it would be not to judge people.

While Della Ventura and Sturtevant reside in Union County, Justin Bennett, who played Ray, came all the way from Jackson Heights, NY. Bennett said the most intriguing aspect of the afternoon, was meeting everyone for the first time and then performing.

“I loved it. I think the whole play was nice,” Bennett said.

 A true lover of theater and the Theater Project is Dolores Allen of Westfield. Allen said she loved the play and it was very funny.

“I like coming here to the project because it gives you a chance to talk to the playwright and cast,” she said.

Cranford resident Virginia Jackson said she is a big fan of theater and it was one of the best readings she had ever been to. It was great to see two different cultures merged together in a comical, way, Jackson said.

“It was the typical Jewish humor,” she said.