Tony award winning playwright Mark Medoff (Children of a Lesser God) is the director of the world premiere performance of “The Men of Mah Jongg.” It’s a poignant comedy in which four sixty-something friends abandon their poker night and take up Mah Jongg. Sid, a grey haired widower tries to recapture his wife’s presence by initiating Mah Jongg, her favorite game.
Others in the group confront their aging lives by writing jingles or joining off Broadway theatre troupes. Marvin contemplates climbing Mt. Everest when he realizes his own wife is facing her final months.
Overall, the story is less about Mah Jongg and more about aging males who are determined to withstand the onslaught of aging and mortality. It’s something all of us, no matter how young or how old must confront when we least expect it.
Have you witnessed the decline of a beloved relative or friend? Are you considered young, old or part of the “sandwich” generation? Have you experienced “scares” which forced you to take stock of your own future? Or past?
How about sharing a funny or poignant story with Courier readers. You might be helping others. Or yourself.
