In This Play, Daughter is Overbearing, Not Trusting of Mother’s Choices

By Eva Trieger

LA MESA, California — We are all familiar with the stereotypic overbearing, guilt-inducing, boundary-defying Jewish mother who doesn’t trust a son or daughter to make good choices.  A new play, written by Lisa Balderston, Life by Numbers, introduces us to a role reversal as thirty-something Ellie is at odds with her mother’s life choices in the wake of her father’s death. This production was not part of the regular season but in conjunction with the Playwrights Project that features local playwrights.

This play opened Friday night in the intimate space of Lamplighters Community Theatre, tucked away in the corner of a La Mesa shopping center. This final show of the 85th season tackled some difficult terrain, but today’s nearly full house seemed to appreciate the story, direction, acting and set if one were to judge by the applause and standing ovation the play received.

I exchanged a few emails with the playwright prior to today’s performance and Balderston is one busy person. In addition to writing plays, she is an Assistant Director, Point Loma Nazarene University teacher and mom to two sons.

Life by Numbers coincides with Pride month, and this is fitting as the content explores several relationships.  There is the sibling rivalry between Ellie (Ell Miller) and Adam (Steven Ronggur Silalahi), a brother and sister who hash out who is each parent’s favorite. There is the acerbic neighbor, Mrs. Gomez (Lucinda Moany) who, while intimidating, is also wise and compassionate. There is the longing for a connection to the deceased, and I can’t leave out the spirit of Mrs. G’s dead cat!

Mom (Lesa Sailors) has been a widow for two years, and though she loved her husband, has found new facets and interests and is allowing herself to live a more fully expressed life, which is equal parts unexpected and devastating to her daughter, Ellie. Nic (Laura Ganz-Holtan) is an Art teacher who encourages students to find aspects of themselves through exploration on the canvas, offering the freedom to see what emerges.

The cast has very cohesive synergy and each actor is truly gifted in his/her own right. Under the direction of Julia Smith, the truly authentic characters navigate their relationships and interactions genuinely. When I looked at the program, I did not realize I had seen the majority of these actors on other local San Diego stages and I was reminded of the great pool of talent we have right here in our backyard!

The play contains a serious message about acceptance, love, disappointment and compassion.  It also invites viewers to release their commitment to what is “normal” or “acceptable.” We can see how a strong emotion like love should not cave to convention or to societal norms. That said, there is humor built into the dialogue and characters, and the overarching sensation is that of hopefulness and progress. This reviewer shed a few tears when characters revealed their vulnerable selves, but I left the theatre with a sense of peace and optimism for this family.

Lamplighters Theatre has released Season 86 and shows include The Odd Couple (female version) The Revolutionists, I Hate Hamlet, Wait Until Dark, A Perfect Ganesh, Bright Star. Subscriptions are available for the full season or for three show mini-paks.

Life by Numbers will run through June 16th and tickets may be purchased online at www.lamplighterslamesa.com or from the box office at 619.303.5092

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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts.