Devil Struts Stuff in
"Damn Yankees"
Having been used by writers, composers, and poets for some six
centuries in myriad contexts from classical literature to legends about 20th
century musicians, the Faust theme (wherein the protagonist sells his soul to
the Devil for extraordinary abilities) takes on a 1950's sports spin in Cortland
Repertory Theatre's production of "Damn Yankees".
Frustrated middle-aged Joe Boyd (Jef
Canter) is a die-hard Washington Senators fan who will do anything
to see his favorite team win some ball games, and especially to see them beat
the New York Yankees. If only he could have a chance to help them to victory, he
might even sell his soul for a shot at helping the team.
And so begins the dangerous relationship between Joe and Mr.
Applegate (Dominick Varney) when Applegate sniffs out another ripe customer for
eternal damnation.
When Joe Boyd becomes Joe Hardy (Peter Carrier), a
22-year-old baseball talent, the likes of whom the Senators have never seen, Joe
chooses to trade his life with his wife, Meg (Erica Livingston), not for the
glory and glitz of the big leagues, but to be able to lead his beloved Senators
to one winning season.
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Of course, blinded by his sudden fame, Joe doesn't foresee some
of the temptations provided by Applegate, not the least of which is Lola (Alyson
Tolbert), Applegate's sexy assistant.
Woven around and through this rather predictable premise are
several well-written songs by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, as well as several
samples of interesting, well-executed, "athletic" choreography, replete with
proper uniforms, performed by the actors who comprise the Senators.
High points of the production are choral song treatments by the
team, including the rousing "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo." led by Meghan
Rozak's Gloria, a plucky baseball writer, as well as excellent vocal
turns by Carrier, Livingston and Canter, especially in
"Goodbye Old Girl", "A Man Doesn't Know", and "Near to You".
Coach Van Buren (Tom Frye) leads his team into a strong
rendition of the show's signature tune, "(You've gotta have) Heart", and Lola
burns up the stage with a steamy version of "Whatever Lola Wants (Lola
Gets)".
Despite the show's somewhat cloying sentimentality, director Jim
Bumgardner, aware of its centerpiece, allows Varney a full-tilt reign of the
stage as "Ole Scratch", and Varney's Paul Lynde-like Devil is as charming,
ironic, and persuasive as he ought to be. His "Those Were the Good Old Days" and
"Two Lost Souls" (with Lola) left no doubt that this show isn't really about
baseball. |
