Local Temple To Hold Theatrical Fundraiser:

Santa Monica Synagogue, located at 1448 18th Street, will be putting on a production of Talley’s Folly on May 2 to help raise funds for their religious school.Talley’s Folley, according to Doug Kaback who plays Matt Friedman in the show, “is a romantic comedy about two lost souls who find each other.” The man in the show is Jewish and the woman he becomes involved with is not Jewish. The play met the Synagogue’s criteria for being suitable to be performed there because their criteria calls for plays that are either about the Jewish condition or are written by a Jewish author. Written by Lanford Wilson, the play, won a Pulitzer Prize in 1980. The original production starred Judd Hirsh and was performed at the Circle Repertory Theater in Manhattan, New York. Both Kaback and Amanda Toliakin who plays Salley Talley in the play are professional actors.The play’s director, Mark Schwarz, told the Mirror, that other professionals who are also Synagogue members are donating their time to the production. This includes the set designers and those who are donating props such as a 12-foot rowboat and lighting. Schwarz stated, “These people are getting together because they love to do it.” This helps keep their production costs down and helps them price their tickets modestly. That’s why they aren’t concerned that the economic downturn might adversely affect their ticket sales.Preparation for the event began in earnest last month, six weeks of preparation time will be needed in order to present the production.Schwarz also mentioned that they decided to do another play as a fundraiser because they “were very heartened by the response” they got when they put on a production of The Immigrant by Mark Harelik in September of 2008.The show will run for 97 minutes with no intermission, but there will be a snack served and a silent auction before and after the production. Items for the silent auction have been donated by various businesses. The Synagogue’s Rabbi, Jeffrey A. Marx, noted that even though the economy isn’t good, a lot of donations have been obtained “because they are a non-profit and people want to help the religious school.” General admission tickets for $50 can be purchased by calling 310.453.4276. Kaback stressed that the evening is a night of family entertainment, is suitable for children aged 11 and up, and open to the public. Curtain time for the show is 7:40 p.m.