I’m not the best bowler in the world, but when it comes to sports-related philosophies, I think I understand the zen of bowling the best. The approach to the lane, the draw, the release, the not knowing whether you’ll end up in the gutter or with a strike ... it’s a sport whose basic philosophies in many ways mirror real-life approaches to the problems of life and love.

And that’s pretty much the philosophy behind “More Fun Than Bowling,” currently on stage at the Chenango River Theatre in Greene. 

Set in a small midwestern town sometime in the late 70s, the small cast of “More Fun Than Bowling” are relatable types you might just as easily see in Chenango County. It’s a sentimental tale told with pathos and humor, and hits the proverbial strike on both notes. The main character, Jake Tomlinson (Kerry Glamsch), is an everyman who had once chance to get away from his small-town upbringing, but gave it up for love. That didn’t work out so well, but it did give him a precocious daughter, Molly (Ellen Warner), who’s surprisingly insightful given her young years. 

Jake and Molly make a good team, running the Dust Bowl lanes in backwater Turtle Rapids, but Jake’s intent on filling the void left by his wayward wife, and marries two hometown girls in quick succession. First it’s Lois (Heidi Weeks) and a little while later, Loretta (Jennifer Corby). See, Jake’s a little unlucky in love – and his chosen mates are even unluckier. Both Lois and Loretta die in tragic bowling accidents.

There’s a sentence you don’t see every day.