In five days of continuous action leading up to the home-wedding of Walter and Bennie's recently graduated college daughter to her college girlfriend, the chaos and calamity we call family is put on full display. An ancient great aunt arrives for the event, even though her mind is not fully present. The self-absorbed bride's younger siblings race about the house. Bennie's sister and brother come and bring their children elevating the cacophony of cousins. Then the bride's friends, dogs, and musical instruments come, unexpectedly, to camp in the backyard. Cruising in the background of the fourth generation Westchester home, slowly disintegrating with age (no grass will grow in the front yard, and days of rain have muddied what will become by the end of the week, a swampy parking lot), is a slow invasion of Chasidic Jews. The Chasidim, as they have in other suburban towns near New York City, are seeking inexpensive real estate. While preparing a wedding, Walter and Bennie must decide to sell the family home while values are high, hold out against what will surely be a decline in town budgets for schools and services, or accept the fact that a fight to preserve old Westchester might be anti-Semitism. Nothing stays the same. Not children, ancient aunts, fourth generation homes, or neighbors.
Strangers and Cousins captures life as it is really lived: on the edge of maintaining and losing control of growing children, loving and hating siblings (three generations express their fealty and resentments), and saving memories while creating new ones.
Here Comes the Brides. Here Comes the Chasids. Here Comes Death and New Life. Here Comes a Wedding Celebration to enjoy until the very last collegiate guitar has been strummed.
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