Winter Heats up with Theatre Three's "Crossing Delancey"

Dedicated to Melissa Giordano, a beloved theatre critic. May her memory be a blessing.

Are you feeling bogged down by the winter blues? Could you use a good laugh? Then Theatre Three's heartwarming production of Susan Sandler's "Crossing Delancey" is just what the doctor ordered.

"Crossing Delancey" opened off-Broadway on April 25, 1985, at the Jewish Repertory Theatre. In 1988, Susan Sandler wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of this play, directed by Joan Micklin Silver and starring Amy Irving, Peter Riegert, Reizl Bozyk, Sylvia Miles, and Jeroen Krabbé.

This well-crafted two-act romantic comedy takes place in a bustling Lower East Side neighborhood where hundreds of thousands of Jewish immigrants settled during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Set in the mid-1980s, as soon as the play opens, we know love is clearly in the air on Delancey Street! The plot revolves around the loving relationship between Isabelle "Izzy" Grossman, an intelligent, independent, modern-thinking woman, and her feisty, funny, and finagling old-school Bubbie. Izzy, content to live alone in her rent-controlled Upper West Side apartment, works in a bookstore while dreaming of falling in love with a well-known local author, Tyler. Izzy is mortified when Bubbie hires Hannah, a marriage broker, to set her up with Sam, the polite, pleasant, and patient neighborhood pickle vendor with the heart and soul of a poet.

Under Colleen Rebecca Britt's brilliant direction, the electrifying onstage chemistry among the cast members was one of the strong points of this production. The small knit ensemble includes four of my favorite Theatre Three Veterans: Michelle LaBozzetta as Izzy, Ginger Dalton as Bubbie, Antoine Jones as Tyler, and Steven Uihlein as Sam. I was thrilled to see one of Hampton's most beloved actors, Catherine Maloney, make her Theatre Three debut as the in-your-face but stay-out-of-my-way matchmaker Hannah Mandelbaum.

Michelle LaBozzetta was perfectly cast as the play's protagonist, Izzy, a relatable and likable character who undergoes an internal and external metamorphosis upon being gifted a hat. Right before our eyes, LaBozzetta's demeanor radically changes as Izzy lets go of her child-like fantasy of romance to embrace a mature and real-life love. LaBozzetta looked fabulous in the 80s outfits designed by Jason Allyn, and she rocked the sexy party dress with the glittering shoulder sequin appliques.

With his easy smile, soft-spoken voice, and open body language, Steven Uihlein delivered a memorable performance as Sam, the "mensch." In Yiddish, a mensch is a person of integrity who is kind, responsible, thoughtful, and giving. Sam is a stand-up guy with the admirable traits one longs for in a romantic partner, and Bubbie, Hannah, and Sam are determined to get Izzy to recognize this.

Ginger Dalton delivered an award-worthy performance as Bubbie. Dalton is a natural-born physical comic who has mastered the art of delivering funny lines with rapid-fire precision. The audience loved Bubbie's colorful tales about her youth and enjoyed the theatrical way she sang her traditional Yiddish songs.

Catherine Maloney, a charismatic performer, commanded the stage as Hannah, the crass, pushy, demanding marriage broker. Jason Allyn had a field day with Hannah's costumes, donning her in attention-grabbing outfits like a leopard coat and a heavily sequined jacket.

Antoine Jones gave a tour de force performance as the charming, egotistical author who lacks a sensitivity chip. Although Izzy is infatuated with him, Tyler can't even remember her name, no matter how often he sees her.

With Valentine's Day and Singles Awareness Day right around the corner, "Crossing Delancey" is chockful of meaningful themes and messages about love and life, such as recognizing the difference between illusion and reality. Listen to the wisdom of the elders. Let go of your preconceived notions about others. Step out of your comfort zone. Your so-called dream person might turn out to be your worst nightmare. What you're looking for may be in your own backyard. How has dating your type worked for you so far? Perhaps the overriding message in this romantic comedy is simply this: stop typecasting people. Who says a pickleman can't be a poet and prince charming, too?

Randall Parsons's innovative set allows for the rapid scene changes called for in the script. One side of the stage houses the quaint bookshop and the other half Bubbie's modest Lower East Side apartment. A few well-chosen props, like a bench, transport us to a city street, and a small table takes us to an intimate New York City restaurant.

With a rom-com that features a matchmaker, a mensh, a bubbie, and a beauty, what's not to like? So, go already to catch this family-friendly, modern-day fairytale that runs through February 9, 2025. The tickets aren't going to buy themselves! Call the box office at 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.