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By Sara Appel-Lennon
 LA JOLLA, California—The San Diego Jewish Film Festival recently previewed Play the Game, written and directed by Marc Fienberg. The movie is based on Fienberg’s late grandfather, Joe Ward, a former La Mesa widower who had been married for 54 years to the same woman.
Ward kept active and drove a car well into his 90s. He exercised regularly and bragged about his leg bench pressing abilities.
Ward, better known as Papa Joe, served as the family comedian. He was of average height with a pot belly that he covered by wearing his pants almost up to his chest. Ward, like George Burns, liked to have fun and make people laugh. He was 89 when Fienberg wrote the script, which brought him to tears when he attended the script reading.
Ward will be portrayed by Andy Griffith who starred in TV's Andy Griffith Show, and in Matlock, which, fittingly, was Ward’s favorite TV show. His heart-throb will be performed by Doris Roberts, who won five Emmy Awards for her role as Raymond’s mom on the nine year TV series, Everybody Loves Raymond. Roberts recently performed as Mrs. Darnell in Unusual Acts of Devotion at the La Jolla Playhouse.
Ward’s girlfriend Edna will be acted by Liz Sheridan who played Jerry’s mom, Helen Seinfeld, in the Jerry Seinfeld TV show.
Both Paul Campbell and Marla Sokoloff auditioned for the parts. Campbell played David, Joe’s grandson. He previously played the role of Billy Keikeya in Battlestar Galactica. Sokoloff played Julie, Rose’s granddaughter. She also acted as Lucy Hatcher in the TV series The Practice
Fienberg kidded that he got the actors the same way anyone gets actors in Hollywood, by sleeping with them. He said that Andy Griffith agreed to the part because he had a bedroom scene and he didn’t die at the end. Fienberg explained that both Griffith and Roberts liked the roles since they lead vibrant lives off stage, and wanted to show their vibrancy on screen.
The movie begins when David visits his grandfather, Joe. David realizes that Joe hasn’t talked to anyone at the retirement home for the past two years since his wife died. Joe talks about giving up on life. David convinces Joe it’s
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time to meet women. He proceeds to teach his grand-father his own six steps to dating. The movie unfolds as David and Joe get back in the dating game and learn from each other along the way.
Fienberg told the audience that he originally met his current wife in high school. He pursued her for twelve years using his tricks of the dating trade. Seven months after he stopped playing games, he and his wife became engaged. Two years ago they both quit their jobs in Chicago and moved to Los Angeles for Play the Game. Like their courtship the movie took twelve years.
I laughed several times during this film. There are anecdotes of wisdom sandwiched with the humor. One example is when David asks Joe what kind of woman he wants to meet. Joe says that companionship is the real McCoy. He explains that you know if she’s the one when you meet her or when you lose her. She’s a woman whose hand you want to hold.
The film is a light romantic comedy which shows a senior’s slice of life. The film could bring a smile to your face and a realization that seniors need to feel loved and appreciated too.
Play the Game will be screened on Friday, September 11, through Thursday September 17, in La Jolla at La Jolla Landmark Theatres, 8879 Villa La Jolla Drive, La Jolla 92037
Author gives his thanks
Sara
Thanks so much for your beautiful column. Wishing you blessings for all good things,
-Shmuel Greenbaum
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