“Left on Tenth” is the totality of a real-life romance

You may not have heard of Delia Ephron, but you’ve probably seen something she’s been involved with creating. She co-wrote the screenplays for You’ve Got Mail and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She produced Sleepless in Seattle as well as You’ve Got Mail. Her books include How to Eat Like a Child, Sister Mother Husband Dog: Etc, and Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life.

It’s that last book, published in 2022, that Ephron has reworked into the new play Left on Tenth. It charts events in her life starting in 2015, just after the death of her husband, Jerome Kass, who wrote the 1975 TV movie Queen of the Stardust Ballroom and adapted it into the 1978 musical Ballroom. She is past the early stages of widowhood, yet is still hanging on to the memories of life with her husband. 

Delia has been asked to speak at a convention of Jungian psychologists, but has no knowledge of Jung’s work. By coincidence, West Coast psychologist Peter Rutter emails her after reading her New York Times article about phone company customer service hell. It turns out Peter is a Jungian practitioner. He’s also a widower and remembers Delia fondly: it seems her sister Nora had set them up on a blind date years ago. Delia, however, doesn’t remember him, but is intrigued with his easy affability — and by how much they have in common.

They start an email conversation, then move on to phone calls, until finally they meet in person. It’s a stop-and-go relationship; Delia thinks things are proceeding too fast and too soon. Peter, for his part, is willing to have things continue at Delia’s speed, and she is bowled over because, as she says, “He respects my boundaries!” 

Left on Tenth works not only because Ephron is a skillful writer. It works because of the sensitive direction of talented multi-award winner Susan Stroman, and because of the chemistry between its lead actors — Julianna Margulies as Delia and Peter Gallagher as Peter. They are supported by Peter Francis James and Kate MacCluggage, described by the program as “Featured Actor” and “Featured Actress”, supplying a profusion of minor characters who watch with benign good humor as Delia and Peter inch closer to each other. James and MacCluggage, in turn, are supported by the amazing backstage staff who transform them by means of quick costume and wig changes into their various characters.

The set, designed by Beowulf Boritt, initially depicts Delia and Peter’s respective apartments, but rotates and separates to create hotel rooms, hospital rooms, and even outdoor vistas. It is enhanced by projections by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew and the lighting designs of Ken Billington & Itohan Edoloyi.

Also adding to the atmosphere of the show are “Honey”, Delia’s first dog, played by Nessa Rose, and “Charlie”, gifted to Delia by Peter, played by Charlie. Both canines are trained by noted stage animal trainer William Berloni.

Left on Tenth is a gentle and humorous memoir. It affirms the power of love, even when it’s found later in life. It is life-affirming and heartwarming, and I know I’m starting to sound all mushy. But I fell in love with Left on Tenth; I left the theatre with a glow few other shows have given me. I think it will do the same for you. I highly recommend making a visit to Delia and Peter and their friends by turning Left on Tenth.

Left on Tenth is presented at the James Earl Jones Theatre, 138 West 48th St., in New York. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to leftontenthbroadway.com.