The St. Joseph’s Players of Yucca Valley opened their new play last weekend, “Biloxi Blues,” by Neil Simon. The second in the “Eugene Trilogy,” the play follows Eugene Jerome as he heads off to boot camp along with a diverse assortment of new soldiers, meets the hard-charging Sergeant Toomey, and falls in love. Despite a last-minute replacement of one of the main characters, the show must go on. Managing editor Tami Roleff was at the opening night performance, and offers this review…
Due to a last-minute family emergency, actor Abe Daniels had to withdraw from the role of Sergeant Toomey in the St. Joseph’s Player’s production of “Biloxi Blues” by Neil Simon. So with just one day of rehearsal, Bob Noble stepped up to take over the role. Director Rebecca Havely warned the audience that Noble would be reading from a script, but really, it appeared that he didn’t even need to consult it very often, and when he did, he incorporated the script into the play so well, that it wasn’t even noticeable. Kudos to Nobel for a very impressive performance on such short notice. Other stand-out actors in the play are Jericho McWilliams as wise-cracking Eugene Jerome who wants to lose his virginity, fall in love, and become a writer; and Ryan Fleischman as Arnold Epstein, the Talmudic scholar who rebels against the Army—and Sergeant Toomey—in big ways and small, and who does beat the drill sergeant at his own game. The other soldiers are played by Kory Fleischman, Beau Stoker, and Adam Redmon, with another nod to Jared Phillips as Joseph Wykowski, a big brute that the U.S. Army is lucky to have fighting on its side.
Playing the part-time prostitute Rowena is Bianca Stoker. Liyan Lagevardi is the sweet and innocent and very Catholic schoolgirl, Daisy. Other ensemble roles are KJ Smith and Kaylin Moffitt as Daisy’s classmates. Cathy Inscore is finally playing a woman, Sister Marissa, and Joe Turner as Father Turner rounds out the cast.
“Biloxi Blues” will have you laughing and thinking about dignity, compassion, prejudice, and camaraderie.
“Biloxi Blues” is playing at St. Joseph of Arimathea Church, 56312 Onaga Trail in Yucca Valley. Show dates are Friday, May 22, Saturday, May 23, May 30, and June 6 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 31 and June 7 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $9 and $11. For reservations, call 760-362-9319.
