Play’s twist of dice comes up a winner

By Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel

SOLANA BEACH, California — On our approaching the theatre, a volunteer remarked,  “Roll  the snake eyes and you get a free drink,” an appropriate welcome indeed.

Being  re-introduced  to  Frank Loesser ‘s music and Damon Runyon’s short story characters  was a lot of fun, laughs , fast moving scenes, actors doubling and tripling in roles  with  smooth aplomb.  The actors’ costumes and character changes were so frequent  I  almost lost track who played who.

My friend, Genine Rainbow-Heart, remarked, “I  felt  the entrance  of  Sarah Errington’s character, Zelma as  the waitress was compelling enough to engage us in the story. Slight and full of spunk, she set the well constructed stage, and drew us in clearly as our narrator.”

Allison Spratt Pearce’s acting, dancing and singing touched my heart and was a standout . Kudos to Director Larry Sousa for  keeping the pace right on cue.  The script is  a valiant reinvention of   Damon Runyon’s famous New York mobsters with their Brooklyn twist of English that  was beautifully put to  music by, Frank Loesser  in the original show.

Kudos  of course to Mark Saltzman who  wrote a clever  and inventive script  that preserved the   essence  and feeling of Runyon’s  short stories with  some of the brash, tough  and funny  stereotyped  characters.

All the lyrics  in the show  were written by Loesser, some  in collaboration with  others.  I loved The Boys in the Backroom, Two Sleepy People, Let’s Get Lost,  Art, and  Heart and Soul  but wish there had been more of Loesser’s music.

Seniors may remember as I do ,and have seen on Broadway Frank Loesser’ five Broadway musicals, each  smash hits:  Where’s Charley?, Guys And Dolls, The Most Happy Fella, Green Willow and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

I hope all these ionic  musicals  will continue to be revived  for younger audiences to enjoy.  Thank you  North Coast Rep for bringing us  fond memories of  the genius of Frank  Loesser and  Damon Runyon.

Another Roll of the Dice will extend to August  11^th.   I recommend you catch it for  excellent live theatre at the Rep.

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Cantor Merel is cantor emeritus of Congregation Beth Israel in San Diego.  He may be contacted via sheldon.merel@sdjewishworld.com