'Left on Tenth' review — Julianna Margulies and Peter Gallagher spark chemistry
Read our review of Left on Tenth on Broadway, a new play adapted from the 2022 memoir by Delia Ephron and starring Julianna Margulies and Peter Gallagher.
Delia Ephron’s Left on Tenth has all the hallmarks of a romantic comedy: an urban setting, romantic tension, and perhaps most importantly, adorable dogs. But the play, based on Ephron’s bestselling memoir, may have a greater impact on the page than the stage. And while it would make a charming rom-com film, it doesn’t fully translate to theatre.
Borrowing from its origins as a memoir, the play utilizes direct-to-audience dialogue, allowing Delia (Julianna Margulies) and Peter (Peter Gallagher) to break the fourth wall and share personal thoughts. Some of these moments feel cheesy or fall flat, while the shared scenes soar.
Margulies and Gallagher spark magic as a widow and widower who learn to open their hearts again after loss. Margulies is especially impressive in the scenes where her character battles leukemia, and Gallagher is incredibly charming and supportive as her partner through it all.
Tonally, the play volleys from comedy to melodrama. It is, after all, a true romance story with the patina of grief. The funnier moments come from Peter Francis James and Kate MacCluggage, who portray various characters throughout the play with the help of wigs and accents. Director Susan Stroman adds a sense of lightness to the scene transitions, featuring characters inspired by Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, an early influence on Ephron, and nurses dancing with rolling hospital screens.
All in all, the soundtrack of romantic songs and the play’s various settings would likely shine best in the format of a movie, complete with a rom-com montage.
Left on Tenth summary
Left on Tenth is based on Delia Ephron’s 2022 memoir Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life. The stage adaptation chronicles her journey of falling in love again after the loss of her husband, exploring themes of grief, resilience, and the joy of a second chance.
Ephron, an award-winning novelist and screenwriter, is best known for collaborating with her sister Nora Ephron on rom-com films like You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle.
What to expect at Left on Tenth
Left on Tenth features the quintessential charming New York City apartment that many Ephron movies showcase. Here, it's a Greenwich Village jewel with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that feature an Easter egg for You’ve Got Mail fans: the “Shop Around the Corner” plaque. Beowulf Boritt’s impressive moving set takes audiences from Delia’s apartment to Central Park, from the Bay Area to the 9/11 Memorial Pools, and even from a hospital ward to the Wye Valley in Wales. A backdrop with projections of watercolor renderings, designed by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, helps transport.
Left on Tenth runs 1 hour and 40 minutes, with no intermission.
What audiences are saying about Left on Tenth
As of publication, Left on Tenth has three audience reviews on the review aggregator Show-Score, mostly praising the performances.
- “A must for fans of the Ephron sisters, and rom-coms in general. Be prepared for no intermission!” - Show-Score user Goldie G
- “This is a well-acted play chronicling the relationship of a widower and widow in the early stages of their relationship and then as she battles a life-threatening disease. While slow in a few parts, there are several poignant scenes, and Ms. Margulies and Mr. Gallagher both deliver strong performances.” - Show-Score user MaxD
- “Strong story built on a moving journey through a writer's life as she manages loss and a new relationship, all alongside a health struggle. Great chemistry between the two principals.” - Show-Score user John Haffner
Read more audience reviews of Left on Tenth on Show-Score.
Who should see Left on Tenth
- Fans of Delia and Nora Ephron’s romantic comedies, including You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle, should see Delia's real-life one.
- Readers who are drawn to memoirs and stories based on real-life experiences will appreciate this story.
- Television watchers who loved Juliana Margulies as Alicia Florrick in The Good Wife and Carol Hathaway in ER should see her live.
- Fans of Peter Gallagher, who is best known for his TV roles of Nathaniel Sammler in Once and Again and Sandy Cohen in The O.C., will enjoy watching him on stage.
Learn more about Left on Tenth
Delia Ephron’s Left on Tenth is a delightful and moving journey of grief and love that shines in moments but struggles to find its footing on stage.
Photo credit: Left on Tenth on Broadway. (Photos by Joan Marcus)
Originally published on