Stori Ayers as Sophie (l)and Ariel Woodiwiss as Leslie (r) in the ‘Foster Mom’ by Chris Cragin-Day. Photo by Mike Peters.
The Premiere Stages at Kean University opened a new show last week. Foster Mom, by Chris Cragin-Day is now playing through Sept. 24. Foster Mom won the 2017 Premiere Stages Play Festival. After seeing this show on Thursday night, it is no surprise that it was selected as the winner over 400 other selections. The play is well thought out with careful development of plot and characters. The dialog is well paced and interesting to listen. Additionally, it addresses several universal topis and relates them to current times.
Foster Mom focuses on the story of Leslie, a 39ish year-old single, white woman raised in a comfortable suburban neighborhood. She is a poet who recognizes the need to keep her day job as a freelance corporate writer to comfortably support herself. She has reached a point in her life where she realizes she might not marry but still wants to have a child. This leads her to the New Jersey system of Foster Care for children on the path of potential adoption. But as her case worker points out during the qualification meeting, she needs to understand something about these children. Most likely they have lived difficult lives that include abuse and neglect. Is she up to the task of being a mother to such a child? Can she understand what will be asked of her?
Kurt Uy as Josh and Kate Kearney-Patch as Sarah. Photo by Mike Peters.
As she grapples with this information and that question, we meet her mother who is recently widowed. Not aware of Leslie’s plans to adopt, Mom spots an opportunity to set up her daughter with her newly hired computer technician, Josh. Josh is of Asian descent, he owns his own business, and mom likes what she sees as a potential son-in-law.
As the story continues, Leslie learns more about herself, her mother, and Josh. This is accomplished through some very well written dialogue. But what gives a special flair to this play is the way that the playwright combines modern issues women face along with more traditional ones. For example, Leslie will have to find a way to earn a good living and take care of a child. This isn’t something new but the aspect of working from home like she does brings it to a more modern time.
Another issue is about relationships between men and women who meet later in life. This brings up questions about having children and if a child is already with one of the persons in the relationship. Also examined is the mother-daughter relationship. The mother has just lost her husband so her life changes. It causes her and the daughter to have to examine how things are working out between them and whether the mother is willing to accept an adopted child into her life.
Direction and Cast
Foster Mom deals with a lot of issues. However, under the direction of Kel Haney, it moves along very smoothly with characters who are very likeable.
Ariel Woodwiss does a fine job of bringing the lead character, Leslie, to life. Her mannerisms and reactions are so spot on that the situations she is dealing with are very believable. Stori Ayers plays the social worker, Sophie. She gives information to Leslie about the foster care system. But the most poignant moment between the two women occurs when Sophie tells Leslie her own background and why she does the work she does.
Kate Kearney-Patch plays Leslie’s mother, Sarah. She adds the right mix of motherly concern and humor to create a character who is herself still evolving but wanting to make sure her daughter does the right thing. Kurt Uy plays Josh. As Leslie’s love interest, he holds back just enough to help the audience understand more about how difficult adult romances can be. It would not be fair to tell what he does at the end of the show, but it certainly went over well with the audience at the performance last week.
The set has a very pleasant and functional design to it. One side represents Leslie’s house and the other is the mother’s house. By keeping them both showing on the stage at the same time, one can see the contrasts between the two generations but a warmth that brings them together.
It is a pleasure to see the fine writing Chris Cragin-Day does in Foster Mom. This show is highly recommended for audiences to see while it is here at the Premiere Stages.
About the Show
Foster Mom runs September 7-24 in the Zella Fry Theatre on the Kean University main campus in Union, N.J.
Performances take place Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm.
Tickets are $30 standard, $20 for senior citizens and Kean alumni, and $15 for students and patrons with disabilities. Significant discounts for groups of 8 or more apply. To make reservations or to order a season brochure, please call the box office at 908-737-7469 or visit Premiere Stages online at www.premierestagesatkean.com.
Premiere Stages’ 2017 Talk-Back Series, offers free post-show discussions with community leaders and local experts after select matinee performances (September 9, 10, 17 and 23 at 3:00 pm). Featured speakers include Meghan M. Walbert, author of Phase Three of Life (Saturday, September 9); Ms. Cragin-Day (Sunday, September 10); Celines Garcia and Lynn Patmalnee of Foster and Adoptive Family Services (Sunday, September 17); and Elizabeth Williams-Riley and Gloria McDonald of the American Conference on Diversity (Saturday, September 23).
Premiere will also offer a series of informal pre-show talks every Saturday evening 30 minutes prior to performance in the lobby of the theatre.