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Understudy steps up to plate as leading man, but dancing, acting simply lack sparkle
By Kerry Clawson
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, May 11, 2008
Damn Yankees director Marc Robin had his work cut out for him when he had to bring a new leading man up to speed in just four days after star Jim Corti had what Carousel Dinner Theatre called a ''personal emergency.''
Mark David Kaplan, who had directed Forbidden Broadway at Carousel in 2002, picked up the blocking, lines, songs and all for devilish character Mr. Applegate in four days of rehearsal before the show's first preview April 30. According to marketing manager Sarah Lance, Kaplan still was learning his lines during dress rehearsal that day.
Kaplan's obviously a real pro, and by the time I saw the show Wednesday, he'd had a week of performances to settle into the famously devilish role.
The show I saw was decent, if not exciting. There's nothing terribly wrong with this production of Damn Yankees, but there's nothing terribly right, either. Some of the acting and dancing simply lacks sparkle.
In this Faustian story, Joe Boyd sells his soul to the devil for just one chance to fulfill his dream of being a star ballplayer for the Cleveland Indians and leading them in an American League pennant win against the New York Yankees. The devil takes him up on the offer and transforms him into young slugger Joe Hardy.
This 1955 Tony Award-winning musical is a Valentine to America's favorite pastime. Carousel's decision to change the musical's underdog Washington Senators team into the 1958 Indians works very well and should tickle Tribe fans.
Artistic director Sean Cercone has done copious research to re-create the 1958 team. The musical, now set in the old Cleveland Stadium with wooden-looking bleachers, features a fantastic backdrop of vibrant yellow trading cards picturing Tribe players Rocky Colavito, Earl Averill Jr., Mickey Vernon, Billy Hunter, Billy Moran, Larry Doby, Preston Ward, Herb Score and Bobby Bragan.
The male ensemble looks great in the Indians' vintage pinstripe uniforms. And in this day and age of womanizing and steroids, it's cute to hear these players sing about how they've sworn off late nights, booze and women in The Game.
Kaplan is funny as Mr. Applegate, but I've seen the role performed in a much more maniacally humorous manner. He's at his best during Applegate's vaudeville-style number The Good Old Days.
Ashlee Fife, a former Rockette with mile-long legs, is elegantly sexy as seductress Lola, the devil's sidekick. But demonically sexy she's not. Her pink and purplish temptress getups are vibrant, and she even sports pink hair.
Fife's rendition of the famous Whatever Lola Wants is a bit slow and not too flashy. And in Two Lost Souls, arguably the show's coolest tune, Fife's and Nathaniel Shaw's dancing (as Joe Hardy) looks like it's in slo-mo.
On the other hand, the show's four dancing Devilettes — Antonette Balestreri, Jessica Rochwarger, Deven Walker and Heather White — are tantalizing, and Julie Cardia is strong as brassy girl reporter Gloria.
The production's tone is bound to change all over again, with Broadway actor Corti reassuming his lead role Thursday. Kaplan will remain to perform weekly matinees.
Besides all the fun baseball-related songs and sound bites during intermission, Wednesday's show was wrapped in a bow with the announcement that the real-live Indians had indeed beaten the Yankees that night, 3-0.
Staff writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or by e-mail at kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com. See her theater blog at http://kerryclawson.wordpress.com.
Damn Yankees director Marc Robin had his work cut out for him when he had to bring a new leading man up to speed in just four days after star Jim Corti had what Carousel Dinner Theatre called a ''personal emergency.''
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