A Pew Research Center study cited that more than 50% of young adults live with one or both of their parents. The numbers are a little hazy of the number of parents who move in with their young adult children who are facing their own relationship and housing crises.

Mom and dad and mom moving in with their sons is the basis of The Folks At Home, on stage now at Alleyway Theatre. More than intergenerational housing story, this new play is billed as an homage to TV the sitcoms – specifically those by TV icon Norman Lear – and how they subtly changed societal perceptions.

Full disclosure: I love TV sitcoms, especially the ‘60s and ‘70s shows of my youth. It was oddly comforting to watch life challenges met and conquered in 24-minutes; it made watchers feel invincible and empowered with plenty of laughs along the way.

This story centers on Roger and Brandon, recently wed and living in their first house. Roger (P.K. Fortson) is between gigs and it’s up to Brandon (Ryan Adam Norton) to bring home the bacon. In good sitcom fashion, they banter and bicker and sometimes they banter and snuggle. Then Roger’s parents (Roderick Garr and Shanntina Moore) show up with a housing dilemma of their own, closely followed by Brandon’s mom, Jose DiVincenzo. Hijinks ensue as they squabble over space and boundaries and what’s in the refrigerator. Despite their unbudgeable budget, Brandon and Roger still have maid service (“we won her for a dollar,” they say) provided by Alice (or as she says “Aaaah-lisss”) wonderfully played by Julianna Tracey who does triple duty in  this production, also appearing as Brandon’s very pregnant sister Brittany and final cameo appearance as a deliciously haunting presence.

True, there were many vignettes in Folks that felt very sitcom-like and director Daniel F. Lendzian played to those moments. DiVincenzo as Brandon’s mom is a hoot: she aspires to a Wal-Mart greeter and let’s just remember that in a sitcom, dreams do come true. Garr and Moore are charming as Roger’s parents, very George and Weezie Jefferson in their demeanor.  Tania Barrenechea’s mid-century set is period perfect, down to the bear paw and bunny slippers under the couch. Emma Schimminger’s sound design – with vintage sitcom theme music – is a great mood setter, too. Sadly, the only thing missing was the laugh track. While there were some giggle-worthy moments, there weren’t the laugh out loud moments like when Mary Richards’ reaction at Chuckles the Clown’s funeral or when Sammy Davis, Jr. plants a big kiss on Archie Bunker’s chubby white cheek. All told, Alleyway gets major props for giving new plays a home.

The Folks At Home runs a little over two hours with a 15-minute intermission (roughly the same length as NBC’s fabled “Must See TV” Thursday block circa 1986) until March 2. Details and tickets at http://www.alleyway.com.