Carole Caplan
in her studio.
Photos by Glenn Triest
Computing The Lyrics
o those attending the
final production of the
February Festival of
New Plays presented
by the Jewish En-
semble Theatre (JET),
it's a musical expres-
sion of maturity. To
the writer, Carole
Bloomfield Caplan, it's
also "Career 3, Take
1."
Ms. Caplan, who
was a kindergarten
teacher for three years
and an interior designer
for 30, decided to return
to school seven years ago
to study music composi-
tion. For the past two
years, she has been work-
ing on her first produc-
tion, The Other Side of
45.
It's not synthesized;
Carole Caplan
writes it that way.
SUZANNE CHESSLER
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Consisting of 17 musi-
cal vignettes performed
by five actors and act-
resses taking different
roles, the review will be
offered at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 24, at
the Jewish Community
Center in West Bloom-
field and 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 25, at the
Jimmy Morris Building in
Oak Park.
"I try to confront aging
with irony, taste and wit,"
explained Ms. Caplan,
who works out of an elab-
orate studio in her home.
"I wanted the dark side to
peek through a whipped
cream surface.
"The scenes are not con-
nected, and they say all
that I wanted to say.
They are what I've either
gone through or wit-
nessed in parents and
friends. The song titles
give an understanding of
what is covered and
include 'The Sandwich
Generation,' I Want to
Love Again,' First Shoes'
and 'Arthritis, Bursitis.' "
Ms. Caplan credits her
late mother as the strong,
positive influence for the
lyrics, which affirm an
upbeat, humorous out-
look.
The four theater pieces
that are part of the
February Festival —
including Ms. Caplan's —
are presented as staged
readings, without sets or
costumes. Audience opin-
ions are solicited.
"I already have work-
shopped this in Connec-
ticut," revealed the new
composer/lyricist. "Each
time I get an audience
reaction, I know where to
change and where to
grow. I take anything
that's said as meant to be
helpful."
While she was writing,
her family and friends
served as sounding
boards.
COMPUTING LYRICS page 80