"What goes around comes around" might be James Sherman's truth in his West Coast premiere play that spans from 1930 to 1999. Three women -- Bessie (Nan Tepper), Mary (Cheryl David), and Deborah (Robyn Cohen) -- represent three generations in a Jewish family. Bessie is the eldest, a German woman who escaped Russian persecution by coming to the United States, though still fearful and clinging to her ingrained ways. Mary is her daughter, more modern yet clearly submissive to her mother's admonitions. When she comes home from school, declaring that she wants to be an artist, Bessie replies, "You can't be; there aren't any girl artists." Deborah represents the contemporary viewpoint but grows to understand her mother's and grandmother's attitudes as she becomes a mother. Sherman writes women well, balancing necessities of plot structure with a good ear for authentic dialogue. Not overly saccharine, the women's love and regard for one another trump any deep schisms that might occur.
Set designer Jeff G. Rack's semitransparent hanging scrims function well, as the characters traverse the decades and retreat to change clothes, as well as providing breaks in time. Ellen Monocroussos' lighting neatly divides the action from front to rear of the stage. Director Howard Teichman executes the humor in the play with a light touch, eschewing caricature for fully realized women. He falters, however, when David needs to play Mary as a child. That portrayal is jarring in an otherwise very sensitive piece.
Tepper is particularly believable as the Old World mother, then aged grandmother. Sherman has written a great part for her, and she and Teichman make the most of it. Cohen is also very good as the respectful granddaughter.
All three actors produce eloquent performances as they explore changing mores, religious attitudes, or their very human frustrations. The dignity that is often lacking in current portrayals of women shines forth in this work.
Presented by and at the Electric Lodge,
1416 Electric Ave., Venice.
Thu.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 &8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. May 1-Jun. 1.
(310) 823-0710. www.electriclodge.org.