Since we're spewing bilge today, thought I'd post what I'd been thinking to do to avoid the RE recompiles.   I know others have done it (many times) before, but ...

    my  $magic = 'sub { ';
    foreach my $char (@chars) {
        $magic .= "\$cnts{$char} += ()= \$_[0] =~ m/$char/g;";
    }
    $magic .= '}';

    my  $magicsub = eval "$magic";
    die "eval to create anon sub failed '$@'"
        unless defined $magicsub;

    while( <DATA> ) {
        $magicsub->($_);
    }
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And in honor of the day:
@pieces=split //, 'eight'; print "@pieces squawk!\n" for(1..2);