Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA
through August 3, 2013
by Walt Haggerty
“Johnny Baseball,” currently “knocking them out of the park” at
Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Nikos Stage, is still a work in progress but
one that should be seen now for all that it has to offer.
Among its many rewarding elements are an intelligently written book
that skillfully blends the story of a dynamic young rookie with the slow,
frequently painful, transition of baseball from all white teams to today’s multi-racial
rosters. Another key attribute of
this production is a genuinely melodic score – a rare commodity in today’s
theatre.
“Johnny Baseball” also deserves bows for its stellar cast of thirteen
enormously talented players, many of whom take on multiple roles. They are a
joy to watch, especially in audience-pleasing offerings like “Eighty-six Years,”,
“One More Run” and “God Bless the Boston Red Sox,” which should become a daily
anthem at Fenway Park.
As Johnny O’Brien, James Snyder gives an outstanding, award-worthy
performance, visibly growing in character and maturity as early triumphs
disappear. Snyder has a powerhouse voice used to advantage in both solos and
duets with co-star De’Adre Aziza. Ms. Aziza deservedly stops the show with her
performance of “The Shimmy-Shammy Whammy,” as does Snyder with “All I Have to
Do.”
Brooks Ashmanskas takes on no less than six secondary characters and
manages to inject each with a distinct personality. As Babe Ruth, Tom McGowan,
without a great deal of substance to work with, enacts the role of a mentor to
young Johnny. Derrick Baskin as Tim Wyatt, and Alan H. Green as Willie Mays, received
the evening’s most generous applause with their performance of “See You in the
Big Leagues,” an optimistic perspective of what might have been.
The impeccable direction of Gordon Greenberg moves the story forward
smoothly and effectively as it traces Red Sox history. Inspired choreography by
Denis Jones made full use the exceptional talents of the ensemble.
“Johnny Baseball “ may not be quite ready for the World Series, but it
is well on its way to becoming a champion.
