5 stars for choreography and exhilarating performance: but this is a brilliant production of a show which has big problems. The musical numbers are lively and high quality; the comedy interludes are slow and laboured. The first half sets us up to excitement; the second half fails to deliver. I was enthusiastic after the first half, especially with the baseball team, but disappointed with the humdrum home run in the second half. This is mainly a weakness in the book, not the production.
With a simple but effective set, we know the situation immediately. Baseball paraphernalia sets the scene. The costume and hair is excellent throughout, giving us a clear period.
The players in the team are wonderful! Their ensemble numbers deliver pace, verve and fun with high class song and dance. Kiel Payton delivers outstanding acrobatics and Douglas Fanning offers sultry, sexy dancing. Each of the players offers a rounded character with excellent acting off line.
With a low key opening, Gary Bland sets the key storyline : never-was player turned couch potato ignoring his wife in preference for his baseball dreams. Nova Skipp works hard to make us care about a character who has few show stopping opportunities. It is in the second half trio "Near to you" that their lost romance really shines and we hear how beautiful their singing really is. Sad that Gary does not have more to do vocally.
Alex Lodge attacks the part of young Joe with endearing flair portraying a knowing naivety especially in his pursuit of Meg. Jonathan D Ellis as Mr Applegate lays his lines and demands that we laugh… we don’t (apart from his friends). He continues. We don't respond as he expects. He continues without moderating his timing or performance to include the audience reaction. If he gauges his audience and modifies his performance to them, he could be great – all the elements are there. Poppy Tierney takes time to escape this slow, indulgent attitude but shines later as she rebels against Mr Applegate.
The comedy element needs attention. With Lola and Joe, the comedy failed to ignite. Play it for real – it is odd in a show which has such great movement that the physical comedy is slightly laboured.
Tony Stansfield's Benny is the inspiration which holds the sportsmen together and shows beautiful timing and grace in his performance. He really is the heart of the team. Elizabeth Futter makes Gloria an interesting conundrum, going from the last team fan to dogged reporter aiming to bring them down.
It is difficult to make live drama based on sport. There is little for the female chorus to do, but they do it well, each trying to create an individual character with little in the script. In the first half we have glimpses of sports action shown in the cast reactions; when we move to the final game in the second half, hearing commentary is a disappointment. That's the problem with the book. The first half is fun and Robert McWhir has played a winning innings in his direction. The second half has nowhere exciting to go – we can guess the outcome and apart from “Near to you” it lacks a killer song.
Derek Benfield
