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"Read all about it!"

Reported in the Register News, Bordentown, NJ, April 30, 2008

"Mom" Show Returns with Companion Book

by Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer

BORDENTOWN CITY — With Mother’s Day around the corner, Project Comma Mom Productions is getting ready to showcase its new “Project Mom (Version 2.0)” show, a tribute to stories focused on motherhood, spiced up with drama and plenty of comedy.

The “show within a show” first came to the River View Studio two years ago with the idea of creating a book about other people’s views about their mothers.

According to co-writer and producer Ken Britschge, the show is split into two acts and the core of the show is based on the essays of mostly women’s remembrances about their mothers.

Constance Wilder-Wokoun, director and co-writer of the show got the idea when she was writing a book about her mother. She asked acquaintances and those around her to contribute ideas to the book, and received approximately 25 personal essays from area women (and one man) discussing their remembrances and witty anecdotal bits about their mothers.

The essays focus on lessons learned, lessons forgot, and the startling revelation that the authors have more in common with their mothers than they think, she added.

The skeleton of the show focuses on a woman’s editorial team at a publication in which the editorial staff narrates the stories and personal essays. The staff is searching for the winning submission, and while they read the various essays, a small vignette-like scene is being acted out in the corner of the stage to give the submissions a dramatic feel.

This time around, Ms. Wilder-Wokoun said there are a few changes. For one, the personal essays that are read will change, and there will be a special entr’acte that will feature a lyrical dance while Ms. Wilder-Wokoun does the voice over for the story, titled “Mother Always Had a Plan.”

Another change the show will see this year is a more live, dramatic presence, because Ms. Wilder-Wokoun said that last time scheduling conflicts had arisen, and several readings had to be videotaped and shown on a screen at the performance.

The decision was made to kick up the drama during the show with a very emotional end, involving a letter written from a son of a woman who is currently serving in Iraq.

Besides there being plenty of theatrical moments ranging from happy to sad, Mr. Britschge said the show is extremely family friendly.

All of the cast is from around the Mercer County and northern Burlington County area, with a few of the cast members hailing from Bordentown City and Chesterfield.

As far as holding the production at the River Front Studio, Mr. Britschge said it was a natural choice to hold the show in the theater again.

“It’s a great building, it kind of has that off-Broadway vibe to it, and everyone is close to the stage,” he said.

“Project Mom (Version 2.0)” will be showing on Friday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m., May 10 at 1 p.m., and Sunday, May 11 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets can be reserved by calling Silk & Tweed at 609-298-4456 (ask for Mak) or by e-mailing your request. Tickets are $10 a piece.

Constance Wilder-Wokoun and Ken Britschge will be signing copies of “Project Mom: A Collection of Essays,” the companion piece to the play, which features the complete essays of all the writers that contributed to the idea several years ago and whose work forms the foundation of the show. The book signing will take place on May 8 at the Borders Bookstore  in Princeton at 6 p.m.

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