The chemistry between Julianna Margulies and Peter Gallagher is charming, and that’s the most compelling reason to see the new play “Left on Tenth”.

The autobiographical play by novelist, screenwriter, and essayist Delia Ephron is based upon her memoir. It is about second chances and finding love again. After losing her husband of many years, Ephron, sister of writer Nora Ephron with whom she wrote “You’ve Got Mail” and “ Love, Loss and What I Wore,” felt that she'd never love again. Her husband is gone and she’s trying to put together all the pieces. When she tries to cancel her late husband’s landline, the company inadvertently disconnects her internet. So she contacts the phone company but is kept on hold endlessly.

She writes an essay about the frustrations of waiting on hold with Verizon. In fact, the first several moments as the audience waits for the show to begin, we hear the ‘recorded’ message instructing us to stay on the line. Who can’t identify with that?

Then, out of the blue, Delia is contacted by Peter (Gallagher) , someone from her past who has read her piece. They begin to correspond long-distance, and their relationship develops into love. Their courtship is sweet and Gallagher and Margulies work well together. Tragically, Delia is diagnosed with leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant that is dangerous and very painful Loyally, Peter stands by her and they marry in the hospital.

As Delia, Margulies is especially likable as she breaks the 4th wall and directly addresses the audience much of the time, telling us how she’s feeling and what she’s going through. Gallagher is attractive and charming and we root for the couple to get together. However, they are too young for the parts.

There’s no suspense for us as viewers. We know that Delia survives since she wrote the play. Yet the hospital scenes can be very upsetting especially for those who have experienced similar events for themselves or loved ones. Directed by veteran Susan Stroman, this show appeals to older people. Although they would most likely be the ones to empathize with Delia, they might also have suffered loss themselves and find the events painful.

Playing the friends, medical personnel and other characters, Peter Francis James and Kate Maccluggage do fine work as Featured Actor and Featured Actress. Changing quickly with wigs, costumes and accents, they play all the supporting roles.

Set mostly in Delia’s New York City apartment ( set by Beowulf Boritt, projections by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew) the play shows the city at its best- clean in pastel hues like a greeting CARD.

“Left on Tenth” is a senior Hallmark movie that takes a dark turn before it reaches a happy ending. Ephron says she found love again, even if she never thought it could happen. So the audience feelS hopeful watching it.