Review: Joy of Broadway comes to Beth Shalom Temple

It took a bit of talent, and a lot of chutzpa, for a group of locals with a love of Broadway musicals to put on a stellar show last weekend at Beth Shalom Temple Center.

Songs sung with love and about love thrilled three sold-out audiences when a cast of over 20 singers and musicians performed “From Broadway with Love.”

Ever since Broadway became the stage for Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, Jerome Kern, Alan Jay Lerner, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim and others, the theme of love has been at the heart of musicals. The songs chosen for this review were among the best from Broadway’s heydays.

Solos and duets by Regina Ford, Sig Friedman, Tamara Kahrimanis, Nancy Karsh, Ingeborg McDonald, Jim Robbins, Mel Roman, David Sirota and Jerry Wohlman visibly thrilled Sunday’s matinee audience.

It was lovely to see Sirota’s personal satisfaction with his solos of “For Once in My Life” and “Music of the Night” but it was his duet with Kahrimanis singing “Make Believe” that brought two stellar voices together flawlessly.

Kahrimanis was a show by herself. Singing a solo of “Embraceable You” her voice was that of an angel. In addition to being musical director, when not on stage she was at the piano or keyboard with the four-member orchestra that included Mike Finkelstein on cornet, Steve Maron on violin and Hara Steiner, who filled in when Karhimanis sang.

Starting with “Another Op’nin, Another Show” and wowing the audience with “If I Loved You” from Carousel and “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables, Ford sang so effortlessly it was pleasure to see how at home she is on the stage.

A few numbers were standouts. Joyce Finkelstein showed another talented side of herself as she sashayed down the aisle in a black almost-strapless dress and pink boa taking on the role of Dolly Levi. Joined by husband, Mike, on stage the two delighted the audience with their performance of “Hello, Dolly.”

Ros Sirota joined husband, David, in two sweet duets — “I Remember It Well” made famous by Hermione Gingold and Maurice Chevalier in the film “Gigi” and “Do You Love Me?” sung on Broadway by Zero Mostel and Maria Karnilova, who played his wife, Golde in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Nancy Karsh’s solos of “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “My Funny Valentine,” the latter sung to her husband Frank in the audience, were perfectly performed.

Brief narrations about each song’s place in Broadway history helped refresh which songs came from what Broadway shows. “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” sung by Regina Ford and from “Showboat,” is said to be the first Broadway musical with a serious subject.

Though most songs focused on emotional love, a few such as “Bushel and a Peck,” “By the Light of he Silvery Moon,” and “If I Were a Bell” sung by Sondra Bernard and the four Shaloms—Marilyn Forstot, Ruth Gosman, Nancy Karsh and Margaret Little were breezy, fun and delightful.

The many hours of rehearsals and the behind-the-scenes efforts of those involved in this outstanding medley of Broadway show tunes was pure pleasure for both cast and the audiences; however, it should have been performed in a larger venue allowing more local residents to enjoy the pleasure of this performance.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.