Arts in Review

 by Carol Davis      
                     ___________________

How do you pay tribute to a man whose who has spent 30 years in
the rabbinate? Well, you put out a call; you assemble all those who
answer who call; you choose a captain; you develop a idea, you cook
up some Broadway themes, you change some lyrics to fit the moment
and you don’t stop until you come up with Emanu-El On Broadway!
That’s how! 

OK. Now if it were that easy, we could honor any one we like, any
time, anywhere and any place, and sometimes we do. But if it’s a
special someone, love and dedication are added to that equation. And
so on Saturday evening, April 7, it came to pass that about 500
members and friends of Temple Emanu-El showed their appreciation
to their Rabbi Martin S. Lawson—or simply to “Marty” as many of us
think of him.

                                                                                              
It’s not my intention here to fill in all the blanks about his life’s
work. Marty Lawson is unlike any other. He’s not afraid to show all
sides of his personality. He’s open, determined, articulate and wears
his emotions on his sleeve. He’s dedicated to his teaching and
learning to a fault. He’s crazy about kids, his and others. He’s always
on a mission to bring to light "man’s inhumanity against man." He’s
grateful, loyal, has a robust sense of humor, a beautiful love affair
with his wife Anita, a strong conviction to his belief system, sound
family values while  respecting the alternative life styles of others, and
he’s genuine.  Keep in mind, this young at heart, energetic in spirit
and years rabbi of ours still has lots of work yet to do. So
let’s get on with the show.

                                                                                              
I have been to the David and Dorothea Garfield auditorium at the
Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center on the Jacobs Family
Campus in La Jolla many times. It’s a busy place and there are usually
lots of things going on there at once. I don’t know if it’s a Jewish
thing or not, but it’s a fact. There is usually a high degree of energy
that flows through the air there as well. About 6:15 p.m., April 7, (the
time my friend and I arrived), the energy level surpassed anything
I’ve experienced before. It could have been because the mingling and
pressing of humanity was none other than the good members of the
Temple Emanu-El family and friends who came there to be
entertained by like individuals while honoring  their leader. It could
have been because they were going to be fed as well. It could have
been a combination of the both, or it could have been because
someone said “If you don’t support this thing, it will be a shanda.”

Nevertheless, Art and Dorothy, my favorite ushers, were there to
show us into the theatre when the house opened. Again, there was a
buzz that couldn’t be contained until the first announcement was
made by Temple President Aaron Borovoy (well, it’s a Temple event)
and Rabbi and family began Havdala services. Now that’s a warm,
fuzzy feeling. Then, it was on with the show with the super-talented
Adam Blotner opening with “Willkommen” from Cabaret. Adam, an
SPCA graduate here in San Diego now living and working in Los
Angeles, was master of ceremonies extraordinaire. Relaxed and
loaded with personality, he played to the full house of an appreciative
audience with the experience of a Joel “Come taste the wine” Grey.

What followed were a series of acts
from more Broadway shows than
I’ve seen with talent so deep that any
New York producer would be yellow with
envy. Seriously! The list of 
luminaries appearing in these
numbers goes on and on. Suffice it
to say the staff managed to get their
licks in at Marty with rewritten lyrics from a number of  shows
(the multi talented Mark Hamovitch, Marsha Stein and Myrna
Cohen participating) with performances by the full time staff
members, or the Lawsonettes.

It’s amazing the talent that rises to the surface when that call goes out.
The entire company was able to stretch in a line across the very wide
stage of the theatre. There were no less than 84 participants and to
single any one of them out would have me ostracized from the
Jewish community. That’s a gut feeling I have, and since my life
experiences tell me so, I pay attention to them!

There were 15 acts alone in the first half with 12 in the second.
Especially endearing were the children, (and there were a lot of them;
they were very well disciplined and rehearsed). Under the able
direction of  Jodie Bowman who also choreographed, and Becky
Cherlin as  artistic director with Myrna Cohen and Marlene
Hamovitch producing (Marlene you are forgiven for missing so many
of our soirées) this  once-in-a-lifetime happening  had everyone up
on their collective heels as the show came to an end with Rabbi and
company singing “Side by Side” from Company. It was a two-box
tissue moment.

Mazal Tov to the entire cast and to you Marty, are you ready for |
“Another Opening /Another Show?”

See you at the theatre. See you at the next thirty event.