LEFT onTENTH with Julianna Marguilies and Peter Gallagher on Broadway

LEFT ON TENTH is the Broadway play based on Delia Ephron's 2022 memoir that picks up on her life after the passing of her beloved husband  of 30+ years, Jerry, while she's been on hold purgatory by AT&T. Disconnecting the landline to Jerry's phone resulted in the debilitating disconnect of her internet. As a writer, the internet is an essential lifeline. Who would've thought that the frustration of waiting on hold for the phone company would lead to a whirlwind romance and second chance at love? Ephron put her talents to writing an editorial of her aggravation from her apartment on 10th in Manhattan was read by Peter living in San Francisco who responded to her in an email and so the paper trail led to phone calls and a NYC rendezvous that brought two septuagenarians together in what would read as a "Sleepless in Seattle" romantic  comedy of far-flung lovers brought together by "bashert;" Yiddish for fate. The Ephron sisters, Delia and her late sister Nora, share a talent for writing. Unfortunately, the two also shared a genetic propensity for blood cancer that killed Nora in 2012. Having read Delia's memoir, I was aware of the miraculous love story and the harrowing story of Delia being stricken with blood cancer that nearly took her life at the time when her life was overflowing with joy at being in love. The story does have a happy ending with a risky blood saving bone marrow transfer that worked and left her with a new blood type. This type of story actually reads very well in the deft hands of the gifted writer. Sadly, despite Delia as the playwright and two very engaging actors, the play is a mildly charming love story. Furthermore, it flatlines with hospital scenes of the many arduous months of treatment. Julianna Marguilies as Delia is delightful and Peter Gallager is wonderful as her new devoted husband. Problems lie elsewhere. as when  Marguilies lies being bedridden and comatose for long stretches. During the passage of time which gets marked by orderlies moving hospital screens to give the actress an opportunity to shift positions. The lighter sexual bedroom scenes feel foolish as the two actors cavort under flouncing sheets.  And, when Peter beseeches his wife to fight and stay alive cannot help being too melodramatic. Still, this true to life love story and story of survival vibrates off the page but merely flutters tepidly like a soft-shoe step on stage where it should have received a DNR order.