When it comes to crossword puzzles, the world is clearly divided between those who always finish and those who, well, don’t. This premise lies at the heart of Jerry Mayer’s new play ‘2 Across,’ a romantic comedy where opposites (puzzlers, that is) attract on a commuter train. ”This is Mayer’s seventh play and collaboration with producer Emily Mayer, his wife of 51 years. During a recent interview, the couple, longtime Palisadians, frequently referred to the new work as ‘our play,’ showing the synergistic devotion each brings to the task.’ ”Rehearsals are taking place in the garage of the Mayers’ Paseo Miramar hilltop home, where an authentically reproduced BART train interior’soon to be transferred to the Santa Monica Playhouse for previews beginning October 22’is the setting for the action. ”A man and woman meet on the train at 4:15 a.m. as it leaves San Francisco station on its way to the East Bay. She takes crosswords’ and life’very seriously, and he treats both like a game. ‘She’s successful, he’s a free spirit who is not task-oriented,’ Mayer explains. ‘The minute he hits a stone wall with the puzzle, he heads to the sports section.’ By the time they reach East Bay 80 minutes later (the play is acted out in real time with no intermission) their lives have changed. ”During the course of writing the play, Jerry Mayer himself crossed over from casual puzzler to one who is driven to finish. Not surprisingly, he sees solving crossword puzzles as a metaphor for life. ‘The idea of completing something can help you with everything,’ Mayer says. ‘It’s about not giving up. ”’Most of my plays have to do with love, and the main idea here is never giving up on finding it. It’s a topic that interests everyone.’ He adds: ‘If you’re lucky enough to marry the right person, it’s more important than anything in life.’ ”Clearly the Mayers are in the lucky category, with a fun-loving and easy rapport characterizing their teamwork. ‘When I hear ‘Jerry, you’ve gone too far,’ I change it,’ says Mayer, referring to Emily, his chief reader and critic. ‘She keeps me honest.’ ”Not only does she have major artistic input, Emily handles financial affairs and all the scheduling for Jerry’s plays. ‘I do everything’place stamps on envelopes, deal with actors, call press people, you name it,’ Emily says with a laugh. ‘It’s really a labor of love.’ ”The Mayers’ own love affair began in St. Louis when both were teenagers. After marrying, Jerry originally set out to work in his family’s construction business, but knew in his heart he wanted to be a writer. ‘I was always the class clown,’ he recalls. ‘I felt I should be writing comedy.”’ ”Success selling a spec script to the television sitcom ‘McHale’s Navy’ prompted a daring move to Los Angeles in 1966 with their three kids when the couple were in their 30s. After what Mayer refers to as a ‘suitable period of struggle,’ he eventually reached the top of his game, writing for such classic TV comedies as ‘All in the Family,’ ‘MASH,’ ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ ‘The Bob Newhart Show,’ and ‘The Facts of Life’ over a period of 25 years. ”It was in the ’80s that Mayer turned his creative juices to playwriting. His first three plays, all comedies, are strongly autobiographical. ‘Almost Perfect’ dealt with the early days of the Mayers’ marriage and leaving the family building business; ‘Aspirins and Elephants’ turned a comedic eye to Mayer’s in-laws; and ‘A Love Affair’ looked at the comedy and drama of marriage. Other Mayer productions soon followed, including ‘Killjoy’ and two musicals, ‘Falling in Love Again,’ and ‘You Haven’t Changed a Bit & Other Lies.’ ”’I have picked things in my own life that ring a bell with everyone,’ Mayer says. While getting laughs is the main goal, Mayer also reaches for his audience’s heart. ‘I always go for some lumps in the throat, too.’ ”’2 Across,’ directed by Deborah Harmon, stars two alternating casts of actors: Susan Cash, Sandra Kerns, Kip Gilman and Steve Vinovich. ”The play will be performed at Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 Fourth Street, on Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 6 and 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. Previews take place October 22 through November 5. The play opens on November 6 and continues through December 9. For reservations, call (800) 863-7785.”
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