Damn Yankees at Casa Manana

Brandi and I WON tickets to attend this awesome musical.  It was  Monroe, Louisiana's Strauss Playhouse's 1994 run of Damn Yankees where I got the chance to play young Joe Hardy.  We have many fond memories of that time in our lives. 

It was the Spring of 1994 and we actually got the chance to see the Broadway Revival of Damn Yankees at the Mariott Marquis starring Victor Garber as Applegate, Bebe Neuwirth as Lola, and directed by Jack O'Brian.  It was very cool to see that Revival in March and then play the part of Joe in the fall.  We actually incorporated much of the script changes from the Revival into our 1955 original script and it worked well.

But back to present day...  Richard Kind (of Spin City & Mad About You) played the role of Applegate and did a terrific job.  Other notable performers were Christopher J. Deaton as Young Joe and Wendy Welch as Meg. 

Damn Yankees tells the tale of middle-aged baseball fan Joe Boyd, who sells his soul to the dapper, business-suited Mr. Applegate in exchange for having his youth restored and being given the athletic prowess necessary to lead his beloved Washington Senators to victory in the pennant race. Of course, this is a variation on the Faust legend -- the main difference being that, in Damn Yankees, Joe ultimately manages to escape Satan's clutches. 

This show is famous as the only successful Broadway musical about baseball, yet it's not essentially about baseball at all. Rather, it's a mid-century fable about a man who realizes that married life with the woman he loves is more important than casual sex, money, power, and youth.

While I love the show, I was a bit disappointed in this Casa Manana offering for the fact that no script updates were applied from the 1994 Revival of Damn Yankees.  The original text of this classic show drags at time and fails to deliver the punch the 1994 Revival captured.  The Revival script is much tighter and carries the energy.  The 1955 version has so many scenes (especially in the 2nd Act) that just do little to carry the storyline.  Although, I do miss the characters of Sister and Doris for comic relief.  I noticed the absence of several Applegate lines that did not return when Victor Garber reprised the role at Marriots' Marquis Theatre back in '94.  In a perfect world, I would add these exceptions back into the 1994 script which would give us a bit more depth and some needed comic relief. 

I know that many reviews were not kind to the Revival.  Many reviews claim the script changes were an attempt to appeal to present-day sensibilities and highlight Victor Garber and Bebe Neuwirth.  (see Michael Portantiere · Dec 21, 2005  · DC Metro Review HERE).  I'm not certain of Jack O'Brian's motivation for the updates but I know it just worked better than the original because it carried the storyline.  The climax of the show has the Washington Senators beating the Yankees and winning the pennant.  In the 1955 script, the climax is actually revealed off-stage and explained via the game announcer.... very weak.  The 1994 updates change the setting and the game is won at bat (instead of catching the ball) and we get to do a little stage magic seeing Young Joe turn into Old Joe.  So Old Joe actually hits the ball and wins the game.  You have to prefer this reveal over the off-stage version.

But unless you have the access to the 1994 script as we did, you are pretty much stuck with the original script by  George Abbott and Douglass Wallop.  So I will commend Director Elliot Wasserman for a well-directed show.  Musical Director Eugene Gwozdz and company were impressive.  It was an enjoyable evening that reminded me of my past life in theatre. 

Comments

[Janet]

Hi Son,
I remember seeing you in Damm Yankee's...Was a good time..Hope everyone is doing good..I am Ok.
Love
Mom