Ernestine Ashworth spends her 17th birthday agonizing over her insignificance in the universe. Soon enough, it’s her 18th birthday. Even sooner, her 41st, her 70th, her 101st. Five generations, an infinity of dreams, and one cake baked over a century. “Birthday Candles,” a show opening this weekend at Montclair’s Studio Playhouse, is a poignant and funny play that takes its audience through the highlights, heartbreaks, and extraordinary moments that make up one woman’s ordinary life.
Verona resident Amy Fox is directing “Birthday Candles,” alongside her co-director, Claudia Budris. Former Verona resident Shelley Sakolsky and Grace Lyttle are stage managers, with their stage-manager-in-training Miranda Montalvo. Steve Moger is responsible for the set and lighting design, with by set decoration by Fox. sound design by Budris.
The cast includes Brittany Istre Haydock (Ernestine Ashworth), Rob Asaro (Kenneth), Brendan Garnett (Matt/William), Darnell Hutchins (Billy/John), Nyasia (Alice/Madeline/Ernie), Tina Ferrara (Joan/Alex), and Sonali Burns (Beth).
Birthday Candles runs April 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27 at 8 p.m., and April 14 and 21 at 3 p.m. Tickets are Available at https://spinc.booktix.com/.
Studio Playhouse is located at 14 Alvin Place in Upper Montclair.
