70 | DECEMBER 7 • 2023 J
N

J

ulia Luterman has 
had experiences that 
especially relate her to 
the play Talley’s Folly, which 
she is assistant directing for 
the Inspired Acting Company 
in Walled Lake. It is being 
presented weekends through 
Dec. 17.
The two-character 
production, which takes place 
in the 1940s and acts out an 
interreligious relationship, 
reminds her of the household 
in which she grew up but with 
important distinctions.
The play, billed as a 
romantic comedy and also 
covering serious issues, delves 
into antisemitic attitudes 
reaching into family. Although 

Luterman is the daughter of an 
interreligious couple, she can 
describe mixed and positive 
holiday celebrations. While 
her family has had Christmas 
trees, they also have had 
candles for lighting menorahs.
“I love this show because 
it tells a really honest story 
of two people that want 
to be together,” Luterman 
said. “They have personal 
things that could keep them 
apart, and they are scared 
to be together pertaining 
to their differing religious 
backgrounds. The honesty as 
the story unfolds brings them 
together in beautiful and real 
ways.”
The play, a 1980 Pulitzer 

Prize winner for Drama, was 
written in 1979 by Lanford 
Wilson and was part of a 
trilogy of plays. It also won 
a Tony Award, the New York 
Drama Critics Circle Award 
and the Drama Desk Award 
for Best Play in the same year. 
The piece is presented in one 
act.
Jeff Thomakos, the 
artistic director of the acting 
company who has appeared 
in productions for other stage 
presenters, takes the role 
of Matt Friedman. Jessica 
Annunziata, a freelance Equity 
actress for stage and film, 
portrays Sally Talley.
“I think the play gives 
a favorable impression of 

Judaism but not in an obvious 
way,” Luterman said. “The 
story is about the difficulties 
of the couple being together in 
ways beyond religion, but she 
still is kind of afraid of what 
her family would say.”
In her work as assistant 
director, Luterman researched 
the time frame in which the 
play takes place and clarified 
that for the cast before they 
went into rehearsal. She 
explained the Yiddish words 
used in the dialogue and 
known to her as a youngster. 
She also sits in various seats 
during rehearsals to make 
sure that the movement of the 
characters is clearly apparent 
to all members of the audience 

ARTS&LIFE
THEATER

An ‘Interreligious’ Play

Talley’s Folly being staged by the Inspired Acting Company in Walled Lake.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Julia 
Luterman

