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"Read all about it!"

Reported in the Hamilton Post, Hamilton, NJ, April 28, 2008

"Project Mom", just in time for Mother's Day

play compiled of essays soon to hit Bordentown's Riverview Studio

by Diana Pichardo, Staff Writer

A collection of essays on mom, written by predominately daughters, serves as the inspiration for "Project Mom", the 2006 book and play.

 

It's been two years since "Project Mom" hit the stage for the first time, but version 2.0 is ready to be unleashed Mothers Day weekend May 9 at Riverview Studios in Bordentown.

The play was created by Constance Wilder-Wokoun and Ken Britschge, both teachers and former colleagues at McCorristin High School (now Trenton Catholic Academy), as an offshoot of the organized anthology of essays.

The idea behind the book was born thousands of feet in the air while Wilder-Wokoun, of Hamilton, was on a flight to a vacation spot.

On the plane, she sat behind two women who were having a discussion about their mothers. One of the women was telling the other a story about the frustration caused when her mom rearranged all of her kitchen cabinets.

Wilder-Wokoun was intrigued by the stories and decided this was something that needed to be explored. Once home, she began to write her own essay on her mother. She then contacted Britschge, of Hamilton, and asked him to do the same. She also wanted him to find 25 men to write essays, and she planned on finding 25 women.

Britschge had no luck, but Wilder-Wokoun sure did, and they began to fill up the pages of the book with the compiled essays.

Stories from writers ages 9 to 90 decorate the pages of Project Mom: A Collection of Essays. (The book is available online at Amazon.com.)

"It was beautiful," Wilder-Wokoun said. "We have representation in every age bracket."

Being no stranger to theater, Wilder-Wokoun, who directed many school plays and community dramas, thought it would be a good idea to adapt the book into a play.

The two created their company, Project Comma Mom Productions and co-wrote the play, which was originally presented in 2006.

There will be a few changes this year. A few different passages will be highlighted, as well as a new ending, but the basic structure remains the same. Five women play assistant editors at a women's magazine and are given the task of sifting through essays written about mothers in a contest. Their job is to pick the best essay.

The material is presented a number of ways in the play. Actresses sometimes read passages from the essays, but there are also moments where passages are used as their thoughts. Certain passages are even acted out by secondary actors on the sides of the stage.

"We didn't just want five ladies on the stage sitting around reading," said Britschge, of Hamilton, who is now employed with Peterson's Publishing Company, in Lawrence. "Lights dim and some act out what's being talked about in the letter. This way, the audience gets a more visceral experience."

Each character has a unique reaction to certain essays as well, which helps to present a more realistic portrayal of mother and daughter relationships, he said.

"Some actors react abrasively, but regardless of what they thought of their mothers, they realized there was some element of sacrifice involved in what they did," he said.

Tamara Jacobs, of Hamilton, stars as the assistant editor named Audrey. Jacobs was featured in the 2007 Project Comma Mom Productions' Faculty Room drama. Her character's reaction is one of initial annoyance that disipates as the drama unfolds.

"It's really fun to listen to the stories about different moms," she said of why she enjoys working in the play. "It gets you thinking about your own mother."

The style of drama is unusual for the area, Britschge said.

"I just think it's a very unique or different kind of show," he said. "What we do almost has that off-Broadway vibe and everything is nice and close and intimate."

The material in the book and play is worth taking a look at, Wilder-Wokoun said.

"I love the things that these women have written, and some of these things were painful for them to write," she said. "It was sort of like a resolution."

Wilder-Wokoun's own essay is featured in the book as well.

"It was like a way of saying 'I love you' to my mother."

The content also offers insight on motherhood, she said.

"I think if women read these stories, or come to the play, they would have a really good manual on how to be a mother."

The only thing that's made up in the play is the dialogue, but all the passages presented are from the actual essays.

Riverview Studios is located at 100 Crosswicks St., Bordentown. Tickets for the play are $10 and can be purchased at Silk & Tweed,, 148 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown or by calling (609) 298-4456.

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