By Nicole M. Robertson
Fun fact: In 1835, Michigan and Ohio fought a boundary dispute over control of the Toledo strip — a fight that gave Ohio the southern city and for which Michigan gained the Upper Peninsula as its own.
That dispute is still being fought over in one home in Lambertville, Michigan. At least it is in “My Mother and the Michigan/Ohio War” by Paul Stroili, now enjoying its world premiere at The Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea.
The third production of Purple Rose’s 34th season, it’s an unconventional comedy about family, football and the importance of institutional memory. Press night on April 11 was packed with rowdy theater lovers ready for a good time.
The play opens at the funeral of Freddy Campbell, who besides his family had two great loves: University of Michigan football and the so-called Michigan-Ohio War.
When his dream of staging a life-size re-enactment of the border skirmish went up in flames, it left his wife, Izzy, a widow. After the funeral, her adult daughter, Carey (played by Caitlin Cavannaugh of Manchester), and son, Josh (Dez Walker of Center Line), convince Mom (Teri Clark Linden of Yellow Springs, Ohio), to sell the family home and move to a condo.
But moving involves unpacking a whole lot of baggage — most of it colored maize and blue.
Izzy immediately breaks the third wall to hilarious effect, handing props to audience members and calling for responses to her questions.
The Campbells had adopted their son from a teen mom in the “inner city” — can we even say that anymore? Low income, maybe? She hands a pen and pad to a woman named Regina in the front row, with instructions to write down any offensive material in the play.
Pulling a University of Michigan onesie out of a cardboard box, she explains that Freddy wanted to raise a Wolverine, but Dez won a football scholarship to Ohio State, making him a dreaded Buckeye.
The children grew up playing Boarder War, a trivia board game their dad invented. Now the game becomes a contest: If Izzy wins, his children must fulfill his historical wish in time for a town festival. If they win, Izzy will give up on his dream.
Old grudges play out across the play’s 90 minutes, bursting in a delightful final-act musical surprise that leaves us wanting more.
The production’s Lighting Designer, Matt Taylor, employs a bank of colored lights to emphasize points of action on the intimate stage, with stadium floods setting the tone for the explosive finale.
The cozy, cluttered middle-class set, designed by Sam Transleau and Properties Designer Danna Segrest, features a kitchen decorated with University of Michigan banners and stacks of boxes filled with football memorabilia. Freddy may have been obsessed with “a silly skirmish and serious football,” Izzy points out, but both are about “some guy you hate” trying to wipe you out.
“Great families don’t happen, but are built,” she says. “And you learn by (messing) up.”
Write that down, Regina!
Playwright Stroili describes family as the essential cast in the play of our lives. They know how to push our buttons because they installed them. Stoili’s previous credits include his sold-out play “A Jukebox for the Algonquin,” produced at The Purple Rose in 2023. It won a Wilde Award for Best New Play, True West Impact Award, and was an Onstage Colorado Award Winner.
Because of the fast pace of “My Mother and the Michigan/Ohio War,” audience members who are more than 10 minutes late will not be seated. But you will be able to exchange tickets to a future performance or receive a refund.
Speed in buying your tickets is also of the essence, as availability is limited — many performances are already sold out.
New this season, Thursday evening performances will start a half-hour earlier than usual, at 7:30 p.m.
In theme with the play, there will be a “University of Michigan Night” on May 9, when U-M students, alumni and fans are encouraged to attend in team gear.
The Saturday evening performance April 26 will be “College Night,” with $15 discounted student tickets, pizza and a talkback with the actors.
The May 10 evening performance will be a “30s & 40s Meetup Night” mixer for anyone age 30-49, with a cocktail hour and food truck at Ugly Dog Distillery in Chelsea. Reserve tickets at (734) 433-7673.
For more information about these events, email caitlin@purplerosetheatre.org.
• Performances of “My Mother and the Michigan/Ohio War” at The Purple Rose run Wednesdays through Sundays till May 25 at The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park St., Chelsea. The play contains adult content and may not be suitable for children younger than 13. Tickets start at $30 with discounts for seniors, patrons 30 years or younger, members of the military, teachers, and groups (12+). For information or to make reservations call (734) 433-7673 or visit www.purplerosetheatre.org.
Photos by Sean Carter Photography
