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Runway Theatre 215 North Dooley Street Grapevine, Texas 76051 (817)488-4842
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Crossing Delancey Extra
Crossing Delancey Extra By: Donna Maddamma January 18, 2009
“So you think you don’t come see this play? Oh you are some criminal!” Bubbie would say to you. Bubbie, played by Katrena Jonas-O’Toole, is the vivacious grandmother of Izzy Grossman. She loves her granddaughter and nurtures her desire to be modern. Yet, at the same time, Bubbie has concerns her granddaughter will never find real happiness if she completely abandons the old Jewish traditions.
“When I looked at the script I thought, man that’s a cool part. It would be so much fun to play that!” said Katrena. “I love character driven roles. This role is just eating me up.” Crossing Delancey is more than just a romantic comedy. It’s a genuine story of relationships between young and old, not only of people but also of traditions. With this story you get a real understanding of how it was to come to a different country and bring your old world traditions and culture with you. Of how difficult it can be to adapt your old culture to the new environment you’ve moved to.
Izzy Grossman, played by Melissa Hurta, is convinced the only way to be a modern woman in this late 80’s setting, is to completely abandon the ways of her Grandmother’s past. She finds though that embracing what is new and modern isn’t always the most favorable of paths. Bubbie’s desire is to show her granddaughter that you can have both the old and the new and be very happy.
Throughout the play one-man struggles to also show Izzy that having a little of the old mixed with the new makes a perfect combination. He also struggles to show her that he is that perfect combination for her. “It’s probably the most challenging thing I’ve ever done,” said John Esquivel of his role as Sam Posner the Pickelman. “He’s someone who doesn’t reveal himself right a way. He has to do it with not only his confidence in his words but has to carefully express himself to the other characters kind of going nuts around him.”
Crossing Delancey is a story for all time. All of the cast and directors agree this play gives everyone a warm message of hope. The story will help you realize that maybe the happiness you are looking for is actually right in front of you. Perhaps we should stop looking so far ahead at what we think we want and open our eyes to what is right there.
Yet the story could not be told well without the help of Hannah or Henka as her friends call her. Bubbie and Hannah have this love/hate friendship that brings a laugh to almost every scene Hannah is in. Misty Baptiste does a wonderful job bringing Hannah to life. Hannah represents the old traditions by being the marriage broker that tries to put Izzy with a husband at the request of Bubbie. “I think she’s more worried about knowing what’s going on than making people happy. She just wants to have the inside scoop,” states Misty. Hannah is one of those people you love to hate according to Misty. She impatiently waits for Izzy and Sam to realize what she already sees – they belong together.
Tyler Moss adds yet another personality to this remarkable story. As with the other characters, it is through Izzy that he gets mixed up in a simple tale of family and friends really wanting what’s best for each other. Tyler plays a pivotal part in helping Izzy see that not everything is as we make believe it to be.
Brock Klein had this to say about his character Tyler “He’s a ladies man but you can see him coming from a mile away.” Of the play itself Brock added, “It’s a very funny romantic comedy that has the niche of the Jewish background.” The dream sequence between Tyler and Izzy is a must see according to Brock.
Linda Fullhart is the Assistant Director to Amanda Lindsey who is making her full-length directorial debut at Runway Theatre. Amanda has been apart of the Runway family on and off throughout the years including acting and assisting directing. “I love this play,” said Amanda. “When I read the play I was blown away with how awesome it was.”
Even dealing with rehearsal scheduling difficulties through the holiday’s Amanda is proving to be a wonderful young director with great ambition and instincts. “Watching someone so young do such an outstanding job of directing those around her. I think she’s doing a great job,” said Linda. About the story itself Linda added, ‘I love this story because as a mother I’m always thinking about the men my daughters will marry. One woman at my church told me that she use to pray for the men and women her children would marry even when they were little kids because she wanted their spouses to grow up in the right way. I feel that with this.” In reference to the character of Bubbie, Linda stated, “I know that feeling where you want them [your children] to make the match that’s right for them.”
“The message of this play is that we don’t have to go out and search for the love that we’re looking for,” commented Amanda. “If it’s family, romantic or friends if we kind of take a step back and look around hopefully we would see that the love we want is already around us within our reach.”
Both the director and assistant director agree that the casts of Crossing Delancey at Runway Theatre have a chemistry that will give this story and it’s message real life and will reach out and touch everyone who sees it.
Crossing Delancey playing at Runway Theatre weekends of January 30 – February 15, 2009. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8:00 PM and Sunday shows begin at 3:00 PM. Doors always open one hour before show begins. You may purchase tickets on line through our website or by calling 817-488-4842. Runway Theatre is located at 215 North Dooley Street, Grapevine, TX 76051.
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©2008 Runway Theatre. Last Updated: 6 September 2010.
