‘Damn Yankees’ a Charming Winner

A musical with a lot of heart, “Damn Yankees” is as good as its three leads--Lola, Joe Hardy and Applegate. And the three leads in Actors Co-op’s current production at the Crossley Terrace Theatre are all-stars, the solid triumvirate upon which director Mark D. Kaufmann’s charming staging ultimately depends.

With her extraordinary singing voice, Treva Tegtmeier is a torrid Lola whose lush sexiness makes “Whatever Lola Wants” more a promise than a parody. Also a terrific singer, John Allsopp is the quintessence of All-American rectitude as young Joe Hardy, who barters his soul for a shot at the major leagues. Tim Farmer is a gleefully malevolent Applegate, belting out his number “Those Were the Good Old Days” with devilish aplomb.

Despite lackluster performances in a couple of secondary roles, the cast abounds with richly comical characters. Bonnie Hellman especially stands out as Sister Miller, a little dumpling of a character so cute you want to pinch her cheeks. The ingeniously versatile sets, by Farmer and his partner Mark Henderson of Sets to Go, are evocatively lit by the Co-op’s regular lighting maven Alan Falkner. Peter Stenshoel contributes the effective sound design. With one or two exceptions, Robinette L. Lloyd’s costumes are artfully in period. Musical director Darryl W. Archibald, who also doubles as conductor and pianist, coaxes big-budget sounds out of his small combo.

* “Damn Yankees,” Crossley Terrace Theatre, 1760 N. Gower, Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Ends May 10. $20. (213) 462-8460. Running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes.